diode
UK[ˈdaɪəʊd]US[ˈdaɪoʊd]
n
an electronic device that allows an electric current to pass in one direction only, used especially for converting alternating current to direct current.
n
a thermionic valve having two electrodes (an anode and a cathode).
Morpheme Breakdown
di
ode
di
two
ode
path, way
Etymology
the word 'diode' is a modern scientific coinage from the early 20th century, constructed from classical greek components to describe its function. the prefix 'di-', meaning 'two', directly refers to the device's two electrodes: the anode and cathode. the suffix '-ode', derived from 'hodos' (a way or path), signifies a passage for electrical current. thus, the literal construction 'two-path' logically evolved into the modern technical meaning of a component that controls the directional 'path' of electric current between its two terminals.
Analysis
Structure: di (two) + ode (path, way)
di- (from greek 'di-', meaning 'twice' or 'double'), -ode (from greek 'hodos', meaning 'way', 'road', or 'path').
Examples
the circuit uses a diode to rectify the alternating current.
a light-emitting diode (led) is now a common source of illumination.
he tested the diode with a multimeter to check if it was functioning properly.