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Glite Dictionary
💡 A four-electrode tube 🧠 A brain electrode
tetrode

tetrode

9.9
A vacuum tube with four metal parts that amplifies electrical signals
  • noun
  • /ˈtɛtroʊd/
  • Archaic
translation icon : tetrodo
  • The engineer designed a new circuit using a tetrode to improve signal amplification.

Examples

  • In her lab, she tested several tetrodes to determine which provided the best switching capabilities.

  • A thousand watts are generated by a pair of big Eimac tetrodes in the final amplifier.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • A tetrode can effectively enhance the performance of various electronic devices.

Synonyms

tube
vstetrode
  • Archaic
65 8.8

An old glass part used in radios and sound equipment to make sound louder

is a specific form with four electrodes used mainly to amplify or switch signals
vacuum tube
vstetrode
  • Archaic
5 5.3

A glass or metal tube with empty space inside that controls electricity

is the subtype that has four electrodes and amplifies or switches signals
electron tube
vstetrode
  • Archaic
6.9

A glass or metal device that controls electric current in old radios and televisions

is narrower, specifying four electrodes mainly for amplification or switching
thermionic tube
vstetrode
  • Archaic
9.8

A glass or metal device that controls the flow of electricity in old radios and machines

is different by specifying exactly four electrodes for amplification or switching
thermionic vacuum tube
vstetrode
  • Archaic
8.3

A glass or metal tube that uses heat to make electricity flow without air

is the subtype specified by four electrodes for amplification or switching

Surface Forms

tetrode singular
tetrodes plural

Morphology

tetrode = tetr + ode

The numeric combining form 'tetr-' (four) is visible, but '-ode' is a bound technical element (not a standalone morpheme with the same sense), so the numeral is clear while the device-type element is only partially transparent to learners.

Etymology

Tetrode comes from the Greek prefix tetra- 'four' and the ending -ode, seen in words like diode and triode. So a tetrode is literally a 'four-part' tube, a vacuum tube with four electrodes used to make electrical signals stronger or to switch them.