1. Plural of cathode; the negatively charged electrode in an electrical device, such as a battery or vacuum tube, toward which positive ions are attracted.
Usage: technical; plural form

Examples

• The kathodes in the old television tubes glowed when the set was turned on.
• Electrons flow from the kathodes to the anodes in a vacuum tube.
• The battery's kathodes are connected to the negative terminal.
• Scientists studied the properties of different kathodes to improve the device's efficiency.
• In electroplating, the object to be plated is attached to the kathodes.