electrode

American  

[ih-lek-trohd] / ɪˈlɛk troʊd /

noun

Electricity.

1. a conductor, not necessarily metallic, through which a current enters or leaves a nonmetallic medium, as an electrolytic cell, arc generator, vacuum tube, or gaseous discharge tube.

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electrode British  

/ ɪˈlɛktrəʊd /

noun

1. a conductor through which an electric current enters or leaves an electrolyte, an electric arc, or an electronic valve or tube

2. an element in a semiconducting device that emits, collects, or controls the movement of electrons or holes

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electrode Scientific  

/ ĭ-lĕk′trōd′ /

1. A conductor through which an electric current enters or leaves a substance (or a vacuum) whose electrical characteristics are being measured, used, or manipulated. Electrodes can be used to detect electrical activity such as brain waves. Terminal points in electrical components such as transistors, diodes, and batteries are electrodes.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interelectrode
  noun

Etymology

Origin of electrode

First recorded in 1825–35; electr- + -ode ²

Example Sentences

In conventional electronics, heat causes metal atoms in the top electrode to slowly migrate through the ceramic layer.

From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026

Sheets of copper and aluminum go through machines that coat electrode slurry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

The images revealed that what begins as a uniform CMC coating can break apart into uneven, patchy fragments during electrode processing, which may weaken battery performance and stability.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2026

Scientists reporting in ACS Energy Letters have developed a new type of electrode designed to address this problem by capturing CO2 directly from the air and turning it into a useful chemical called formic acid.

From Science Daily • Jan. 29, 2026

One half of the chamber’s interior was occupied by a hollow semicircular electrode shaped like the letter D and known forever more as a “dee.”

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik