cathode

noun

cath·​ode ˈka-ˌthōd 

1

: the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which reduction occurs:

a

: the negative terminal of an electrolytic cell

b

: the positive terminal of a galvanic cell

2

: the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube

broadly : the negative electrode of a diode compare anode

cathodal

ˈka-ˌthō-dᵊl 

adjective

cathodally adverb

cathodic

ka-ˈthä-dik  -ˈthō- 

adjective

cathodically

ka-ˈthä-di-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈthō-

adverb

Examples of cathode in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Commerce proposed new restrictions on exports of technology used to make battery cathodes, as well as those used to process gallium and lithium, key minerals used for electronics and electric vehicles. —Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 3 Jan. 2025

Current thinking in battery design suggests charging at this speed requires thin anodes and cathodes and thus less capacity. —Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

The key component is cellulose, which acts as a natural medium for ion transfer between the node and cathode. —Pcmag Staff, PCMAG, 9 Jan. 2025

While research on anode and cathode chemistries has exploded—with more than 200,000 scientific papers published in the past decade—the electrolyte field has been largely underserved, with fewer than 20,000 studies. —Matthew Dawson, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek kathodos way down, from kata- + hodos way

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cathode

• cathode ray
• cathode-ray tube

Rhymes for cathode

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• commode
• corrode
• crossroad
• decode

Kids Definition

cathode

noun

cath·​ode ˈkath-ˌōd 

1

: the negative electrode of an electrolytic cell compare anode sense 1

2

: the positive terminal of a battery

3

: the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube

cathodic

ka-ˈthäd-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

cathode

noun

cath·​ode ˈkath-ˌōd 

1

: the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which reduction occurs: as

a

: the negative terminal of an electrolytic cell

b

: the positive terminal of a storage battery that is delivering current

2

: the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube compare anode