cathode

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cathode

/ˈkæθ.oʊd/
/kæt̪ʰoɖ/ South Asia

Where it comes from

From Ancient Greek κατα- (kata-, “down”) and ὁδός (hodós, “journey, way”), equivalent to Ancient Greek κάθοδος (káthodos, “way down, descent”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, cath- (alternative form of cata-) + -ode.

noun cathodes · kathode

An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows outwards (and thus, electrons flow inwards). It can have either a negative or a positive voltage with respect to anode of the same polarized device (depending on whether the device is a load or a source, respectively).
broadly The electrode at which chemical reduction of cations takes place, usually resulting in the deposition of metal onto the electrode.
The electrode from which electrons are emitted into a vacuum tube or gas-filled tube.
That electrode of a semiconductor device which is connected to the n-type material of a p-n junction.

Opposite: anode

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: anode, heater, screen, cs, cathode-ray, negative pole, negative electrode, negative terminal, electron donor, cath., cath, cathodegraph, cathexion, cathood, vas cath, catheter

noun

Opposite: anode

Translations

Every language

noun electrode through which current flows outward

Español	cátodo
한국어	음극 eumgeuk, 캐소드 kaesodeu
日本語	陰極 inkyoku, カソード kasōdo
中文	陰極 /阴极 yīnjí, 正極 /正极 zhèngjí
हिन्दी	ऋणाग्र ŕṇāgra, कैथोड kaithoḍ
Kiswahili	kathodi
Português	cátodo, catodo, catódio
Français	cathode
Deutsch	Kathode, Minuspol
Italiano	catodo
Русский	като́д katód
Tiếng Việt	âm cực

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MLA

"cathode." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/cathode. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

cathode. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/cathode

Chicago

"cathode." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/cathode.

BibTeX

@misc{cathode_2026,
  title = {cathode},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/cathode},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}