Added 10 October 2026
anode
/ˈæn.əʊd/ noun
In Latin: none, coined in 1834 Coined: 1834, by William Whewell Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about anode at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows inwards (and thus, electrons flow outwards). It can have either a positive or a negative voltage with respect to cathode of the same polarized device (depending on whether the device is a load or a source, respectively).
- The electrode which collects electrons emitted by the cathode in a vacuum tube or gas-filled tube.
- That electrode of a semiconductor device which is connected to the p-type material of a p-n junction.
Origin
From Ancient Greek ἀνα- (ana-, “up”) and ὁδός (hodós, “path”), forming the New Greek compound ἄνοδος (ánodos). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, an- (“up, forward, away”) + -ode (“way”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)