thermion

[ thurm-ahy-uhn, -on; thur-mee-uhn ]

noun

, Physics.

1. an ion emitted by incandescent material.

thermion

/ ˈθɜːmɪən /

noun

1. physics an electron or ion emitted by a body at high temperature

thermion

/ thûr′mī′ən /

1. An electrically charged particle or ion that is emitted by a heated conducting material. The electrons emitted from the cathodes of electron tubes (such as cathode ray tubes ) are thermions.

Other Words From

• thermi·onic adjective
• thermi·oni·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of thermion¹

First recorded in 1910–15; therm- + ion