anode
anode Lexical Profile
anode Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The positively charged electrode by which the electrons leave an electrical device, or the electrode where oxidation occurs in an electrochemical cell.
"During the electroplating process, the copper metal at the anode dissolves into the solution and migrates toward the cathode."
The negative terminal of a primary cell or of a storage battery that is delivering current.
"In a standard discharging lithium-ion battery, lithium ions flow from the graphite anode through the electrolyte to the cathode."
Word Nuance & Usage
The electrical polarity of an anode depends on the type of device: it is the positive electrode in an electrolytic cell or recharging battery, but the negative terminal in a discharging galvanic battery.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1834 by English polymath William Whewell for physicist Michael Faraday from Ancient Greek 'anodos' ('way up'), combining 'ana-' ('up') and 'hodos' ('way').