Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cation

/ˈkætˌaɪ.ən/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.79 in modern English

Syllables: cation
IPA: /ˈkætˌaɪ.ən/

8

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A positively charged ion: one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek κᾰτῐόν (kătĭón), neuter present participle of κᾰ́τειμῐ (kắteimĭ, “to go down, come down”), from κᾰτᾰ- (kătă-, “downwards, down, cata-”) + εἶμῐ (eîmĭ, “to go, come”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, cat(a)- + ion.

Inflected Forms

cations (plural) kation (alternative, archaic)

Derived Forms

bication borocation carbocation cationic cationization cationize cationoid cationotropic cationotropy countercation dication hexacation

Phrases

cation exchange cation-π radical cation

Antonyms

anion

Questions

How do you pronounce cation?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkætˌaɪ.ən/.
What does cation mean?: A positively charged ion: one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.
Where does cation come from?: Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek κᾰτῐόν (kătĭón), neuter present participle of κᾰ́τειμῐ (kắteimĭ, “to go down, come down”), from κᾰτᾰ- (kătă-, “downwards, down, cata-”) + εἶμῐ (eîmĭ, “to go, come”). Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday, who introduced it later that year. By surface analysis, cat(a)- + ion.

How to pronounce cation

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cation”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkætˌaɪ.ən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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