Editing Diode (section)

==Etymology==
{{Main article|Rectifier}}

At the time of their invention, asymmetrical conduction devices were known as [[rectifier]]s. In 1919, the year [[tetrode]]s were invented, [[William Henry Eccles]] coined the term ''diode'' from the [[Greek and Latin roots|Greek roots]] ''di'' (from ''δί''), meaning 'two', and ''ode'' (from ''οδός''), meaning 'path'. The word ''diode'' however was already in use, as were ''[[triode]], [[tetrode]], [[pentode]], [[hexode]]'', as terms of [[Time-division multiplexing|multiplex]] [[telegraphy]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ifA2AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA252| title = W. H. Preece, "Multiplex Telegraphy", ''The Telegraphic Journal and Electrical Review'', Vol. XIX, September 10, 1886, p. 252| year = 1886}}</ref>

Although all diodes ''rectify'', ''"rectifier"'' usually applies to diodes used for [[power supply]], to differentiate them from diodes intended for [[Signal (electrical engineering)|small signal]] circuits.