Conducting contact (9)
I believe the answer is:
electrode
'conducting contact' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for electrode that I've seen before include "Conducting point by which electric current enters or leaves" , "Conductor (eg, in battery)" , "Conducting contact" , "Terminal of, eg, an acid battery" , "Conducting terminal" .)