anode

A1N1O1D2E1
UK/ˈæn.əʊd/US/ˈæn.oʊd/

noun

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).

Opposite
cathode
OriginAncient Greek ἀνα- →
Less commonScrabble 6
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Meanings

nounanode (plural anodes)

plural anodes

  1. businessAn 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).
  2. chemistry(by extension) The electrode at which chemical oxidation of anions takes place, usually resulting in the erosion of metal from the electrode.
  3. businessThe electrode which collects electrons emitted by the cathode in a vacuum tube or gas-filled tube.
  4. businessThat electrode of a semiconductor device which is connected to the p-type material of a p-n junction.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
cathode

nouna positively charged electrode by which electrons leave an electrical device

Opposite
cathode
Broader
electrode

nounthe negatively charged terminal of a voltaic cell or storage battery that supplies current

Opposite
cathode
Broader
terminalpole

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀνα-“up”
  2. Englishanode

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”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic مِصْعَد, أَنُود
  • مِصْعَد (miṣʕad)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
  • أَنُود (ʔanūd)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Basque anodo, anodo
  • anodothe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • anodothe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Bulgarian анод, ано́д
  • анод (anod)the electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • ано́д (anód)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Catalan ànode, ànode
  • ànodethe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • ànodethe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Chinese Mandarin 负极, 陽極 /阳极
  • 负极 (fùjí)the electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • 陽極 /阳极 (yángjí)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Czech anoda, anoda
  • anodathe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • anodathe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Esperanto anodo
  • anodothe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Finnish anodi, anodi
  • anodithe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • anodithe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
French anode, anode
  • anodethe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • anodethe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
German Anode, Anode
  • Anodethe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • Anodethe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Greek ανόδιο
  • ανόδιο (anódio)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Hawaiian ʻūholo uila ʻāne
  • ʻūholo uila ʻānethe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Hebrew אנודה
  • אנודה (anóda)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Hindi धनाग्र
  • धनाग्र (dhanāgra)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Hungarian anód
  • anódthe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Indonesian anode
  • anodethe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Irish anóid, anóid
  • anóidthe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • anóidthe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Italian anodo, anodo
  • anodothe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • anodothe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Japanese 陽極, アノード
  • 陽極 (yōkyoku)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
  • アノード (anōdo)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Korean 양극, 애노드
  • 양극 (yanggeuk)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
  • 애노드 (aenodeu)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Malay anod, anod
  • anodthe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • anodthe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Māori pitoake, pitooho
  • pitoakethe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • pitoohothe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • pito tukuirahikothe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Polish anoda, anoda
  • anodathe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • anodathe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Portuguese ânodo, anodo
  • ânodothe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • anodothe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • ânodothe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
  • anodothe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Russian ано́д, ано́д
  • ано́д (anód)the electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • ано́д (anód)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Spanish anodo, ánodo
  • anodothe electrode through which current flows into a cell
  • ánodothe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Swahili anodi
  • anodithe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Swedish anod
  • anodthe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Tagalog tahandas
  • tahandasthe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Turkish anot
  • anotthe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Ukrainian ано́д
  • ано́д (anód)the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs
Vietnamese dương cực
  • dương cựcthe electrode of an electrochemical cell at which oxidation occurs

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

DoaneDeano
Cite this entry
APA

anode. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anode

MLA

“anode.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anode. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “anode,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anode.

Source: anode on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.