cathode

American  

[kath-ohd] / ˈkæθ oʊd /

noun

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

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

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

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cathode British  

/ kæˈθɒdɪk, -ˈθəʊ-, ˈkæθəʊd, kæˈθəʊdəl /

noun

1. the negative electrode in an electrolytic cell; the electrode by which electrons enter a device from an external circuit

2. the negatively charged electron source in an electronic valve

3. the positive terminal of a primary cell

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cathode Scientific  

/ kăth′ōd′ /

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

2. The source of electrons in an electrical device, such as a vacuum tube or diode.

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

4. Compare anode

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Other Word Forms

• cathodal adjective

Etymology

Origin of cathode

1825–35; < Greek káthodos a way down, equivalent to kat- cat- ( def. ) + hodós way

Compare meaning

How does cathode compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anode vs. cathode

Example Sentences

It expects average production of about 100,000 tons of cathode annually over 22 years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

Unlike design strategies with a thin cathode, this thick cathode would pack less of the inactive materials and more cathode "meat."

From Science Daily • Oct. 17, 2025

The Department of Energy terminates a grant for a battery cathode grade lithium hydroxide manufacturing facility.

From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025

Electroflow, which raised $2.8 million in a pre-seed round a year earlier, also wants to add more staff and develop new partnerships with battery cell makers that could be potential customers of its cathode material.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 30, 2025

“Good question. I’m the idiot box. I’m the TV. I’m the all-seeing eye and the world of the cathode ray. I’m the boob tube. I’m the little shrine the family gathers to adore.”

From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman