cathode ray

noun

1
cathode rays plural : the high-speed electrons emitted in a stream from the heated cathode of a vacuum tube
2
: a stream of electrons emitted from the cathode of a vacuum tube
usually used in plural

Examples of cathode ray in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Mother room, with its 1979 notions of what 22nd century computer technology would look like, was copied down to now-primitive cathode ray screens (sourced from a Chinese manufacturer that still makes them). Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026 According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these bulky electronics (otherwise known as CRTs, standing for cathode ray tubes) contain hazardous materials in the funnel glass, which makes disposing of them especially tricky. Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026 Flat screen televisions didn’t enter the market until 1997, so in 1996, we were all gathered around massive, furniture-weight cathode ray tube sets. Ryan Brennan march 20, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026 At this point, any serious retro gamer knows that a bulky cathode ray tube (CRT) TV provides the most authentic, lag-free experience for game consoles that predate the era of flat-panel HDTVs (i.e,. Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024 The cathode rays Crookes observed in his vacuum tubes were as evanescent as any ghost. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 Like vinyl and cassette tapes, cathode ray tubes are experiencing a comeback in some circles. Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Apr. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cathode ray was in 1880

Cite this Entry

“Cathode ray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cathode%20ray. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

cathode ray

noun
1
: one of the high-speed electrons driven in a stream from the heated cathode of a vacuum tube under the force of a strong electric field
2
: a stream of cathode-ray electrons

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