any chemical compound that ionizes when molten or in solution, allowing it to conduct electricity
Origin:
electro- + -lyte
See electrolyte in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A chemical compound that ionizes when dissolved or molten to produce an electrically conductive medium.
Physiology Any of various ions, such as sodium, potassium, or chloride, required by cells to regulate the electric charge and flow of water molecules across the cell membrane.