catholyte
|cath-o-lyte|
/ˈkæθəlaɪt/
electrolyte at the cathode
Etymology
'catholyte' originates as a modern scientific formation from 'cathode' + the suffix '-lyte', where 'cathode' comes from Greek 'kathodos' meaning 'downward way' and '-lyte' is the element seen in words like 'electrolyte' denoting a salt or solution.
'catholyte' was coined in scientific/technical English by combining the Greek-derived 'cathode' with the chemico-linguistic suffix '-lyte' (as in 'electrolyte' and 'anolyte') and entered specialized electrochemistry usage in the modern scientific period (late 19th–20th century).
The term has maintained a specialized sense: it originally and still denotes the electrolyte associated with the cathode in electrochemical systems.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the electrolyte solution located at or in contact with the cathode in an electrochemical cell; the electrolyte on the cathode side.
During electrolysis the catholyte near the cathode can change composition as ions are consumed or produced.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/25 11:38