noun
- A vacuum tube with five electrodes: a cathode, anode, and three grids, used to amplify or generate electrical signals.
Usage: electronics; historical technology
Examples
- The pentode was a key component in mid-20th-century radio receivers.
- Engineers preferred pentodes over triodes because they offered better amplification.
- Vintage amplifiers often contained several pentode tubes for power output.
- The pentode's three grids allowed for improved control of electron flow.
- Collectors of antique radios seek working pentodes to restore old equipment.