anode

[an-ohd]

noun

1. the electrode or terminal by which current enters an electrolytic cell, voltaic cell, battery, etc.

2. the negative terminal of a voltaic cell or battery.

3. the positive terminal, electrode, or element of an electron tube or electrolytic cell.

anode

/ əˈnɒdɪk, ˈænəʊd, eɪˈnəʊdəl /

noun

1. the positive electrode in an electrolytic cell

2. Also called (esp US): plate. the positively charged electrode in an electronic valve

3. the negative terminal of a primary cell Compare cathode

anode

1. The positive electrode in an electrolytic cell, toward which negatively charged particles are attracted. The anode has a positive charge because it is connected to the positively charged end of an external power supply.

2. The positively charged element of an electrical device, such as a vacuum tube or a diode, to which electrons are attracted.

3. The negative electrode of a voltaic cell, such as a battery. The anode gets its negative charge from the chemical reaction that happens inside the battery, not from an external source.

4. Compare cathode

Other Word Forms

• anodal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anode¹

1825–35; < Greek ánodos way up, equivalent to an- an- ³ + hodós way, road

Word History and Origins

Origin of anode¹

C19: from Greek anodos a way up, from hodos a way; alluding to the movement of the current to or from the positive pole