1
: the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which reduction occurs:
a
: the negative terminal of an electrolytic cell
b
: the positive terminal of a galvanic cell
2
: the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube
broadly
: the negative electrode of a diode compare anode
cathodally
adverb
Examples of cathode in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The decrease is attributed to a decline in sales of cathode materials and precursors.
—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 17 Mar. 2025
The company's proprietary battery chemistry relies on cellulose, the structural plant material used to make paper, as the medium for ion transfer between the anode and cathode.
—New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025
In response, Rudolph lets his directorial vision loose here, a giddy cinematic id that displays more imagination and more daring in every cathode tube and every street sign, every growl and every rant, than most Hollywood movies have in their whole run time.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
These batteries are different from traditional lithium-ion batteries: while li-ion batteries employ either NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide) or LCO (lithium cobalt oxide) as the cathode material, LFP batteries utilize lithium iron phosphate.
—New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cathode
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Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 17 Mar. 2025
The company's proprietary battery chemistry relies on cellulose, the structural plant material used to make paper, as the medium for ion transfer between the anode and cathode.
—New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025
In response, Rudolph lets his directorial vision loose here, a giddy cinematic id that displays more imagination and more daring in every cathode tube and every street sign, every growl and every rant, than most Hollywood movies have in their whole run time.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2025
These batteries are different from traditional lithium-ion batteries: while li-ion batteries employ either NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide) or LCO (lithium cobalt oxide) as the cathode material, LFP batteries utilize lithium iron phosphate.
—New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cathode
Cite this Entry
“Cathode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cathode. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cathode
noun
cath·ode
ˈkath-ˌōd 
1
: the negative electrode of an electrolytic cell compare anode sense 1
2
: the positive terminal of a battery
3
: the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube
Medical Definition
cathode
noun
cath·ode
ˈkath-ˌōd
1
: the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which reduction occurs: as
a
: the negative terminal of an electrolytic cell
b
: the positive terminal of a storage battery that is delivering current
2
: the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube compare anode
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