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cathode

noun
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cath·​ode | \ ˈka-ˌthōd How to pronounce cathode (audio) \

Definition of cathode

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
Other Words from cathode Example Sentences Learn More about cathode

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Other Words from cathode

cathodal \ ˈka-​ˌthō-​dᵊl How to pronounce cathodal (audio) \ adjective
cathodally adverb
cathodic \ ka-​ˈthä-​dik How to pronounce cathodic (audio) , -​ˈthō-​ How to pronounce cathodic (audio) \ adjective
cathodically \ ka-​ˈthä-​di-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce cathodically (audio) , -​ˈthō-​ \ adverb

Examples of cathode in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But there was a significant issue with these battery designs: the cathode was pure lithium metal. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "A Chemistry Nobel we can use: Lithium-ion batteries," 9 Oct. 2019 Using Goodenough's cathode as a basis, Yoshino created the first commercially viable lithium-ion battery five years later. — Allen Kim, CNN, "John B. Goodenough just became the oldest person, at 97, to win a Nobel Prize," 9 Oct. 2019 The cathodes and anodes of these batteries are made by mixing materials in a solvent (water or otherwise) and then evaporating the solvent to leave a powder behind. — Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "Study that argued EVs aren’t cleaner gets an update," 4 Dec. 2019 There are zinc slabs for coating steel, copper cathodes for wires and transformers, and grains of nickel matte, a step in making purified nickel used in batteries and other products. — Anchorage Daily News, "Chinese metal mines feed global demand for gadgets and poison China’s poorest regions," 30 Dec. 2019 Ever since Alessandro Volta invented the first true battery in 1800, scientists have tried to find ways to get electrons to flow from a negative electrode called an anode to a positive electrode called a cathode. — New York Times, "Lithium-Ion Batteries Work Earns Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 3 Scientists," 9 Oct. 2019 Now, a growing appetite for electric vehicles is creating new demand for nickel, whose chemical derivatives are increasingly used in cathodes of lithium-ion batteries. — Ian Morse, Anchorage Daily News, "Mining turned Indonesian seas red. The drive for greener cars could herald a new toxic tide.," 22 Nov. 2019 Instead of using many smaller NMC crystals as the cathode, this battery relies on larger crystals. — Wired, "Tesla May Soon Have a Battery That Can Last a Million Miles," 23 Sep. 2019 Now, a growing appetite for electric vehicles is creating new demand for nickel, whose chemical derivatives are increasingly used in cathodes of lithium-ion batteries. — Ian Morse, Anchorage Daily News, "Mining turned Indonesian seas red. The drive for greener cars could herald a new toxic tide.," 22 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cathode.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of cathode

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for cathode

Greek kathodos way down, from kata- + hodos way

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Time Traveler for cathode

Time Traveler

The first known use of cathode was in 1834

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Statistics for cathode

Last Updated

16 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Cathode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cathode. Accessed 24 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for cathode

cathode

noun
How to pronounce cathode (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of cathode

technical : the part of an electrical device (such as a battery) where electrons enter

See the full definition for cathode in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cathode

noun
cath·​ode | \ ˈkath-ˌōd How to pronounce cathode (audio) \

Medical Definition of cathode

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on cathode

Spanish Central: Translation of cathode

Nglish: Translation of cathode for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cathode

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