cathode ray

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noun

a flow of electrons emanating from a cathode in a vacuum tube and focused into a narrow beam.

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Origin of cathode ray

First recorded in 1875–80

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I have been a Ray Harryhausen fan since I was six or seven years old.
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Gordon turned his pleading eyes on his old friend without a ray of concession; but for a moment he hesitated.
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But the ray had shone upon the frosted glass long enough to enable Kerry to read the words painted there in square black letters.
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cathode ray

A beam of electrons streaming from the negatively charged end of a vacuum tube (the cathode) toward a positively charged plate (the anode).