photocathode

P3H4O1T1O1C3A1T1H4O1D2E1

noun

A cathode that emits electrons when exposed to light.

OriginEnglish cathode ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
UncommonScrabble 23
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Meanings

nounphotocathode (plural photocathodes)

plural photocathodes

  1. natural sciencesA cathode that emits electrons when exposed to light.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Englishcathode
  9. Englishphotocathode

From photo- + cathode.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Irish fótacatóid
  • fótacatóidphysics: a cathode that emits electrons when exposed to light
Italian fotocatodo
  • fotocatodophysics: a cathode that emits electrons when exposed to light
Cite this entry
APA

photocathode. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photocathode

MLA

“photocathode.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photocathode. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photocathode,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photocathode.

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