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catalyst
[ kat-l-ist ]
noun
- Chemistry. a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.
- something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected.
- a person or thing that precipitates an event or change:
His imprisonment by the government served as the catalyst that helped transform social unrest into revolution.
- a person whose talk, enthusiasm, or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic, or energetic.
catalyst
/ ˈkætəlɪst /
noun
- a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself suffering any permanent chemical change Compare inhibitor
- a person or thing that causes a change
catalyst
/ kăt′l-ĭst /
- A substance that starts or speeds up a chemical reaction while undergoing no permanent change itself. The enzymes in saliva, for example, are catalysts in digestion.
catalyst
- In chemistry , a substance that causes a chemical reaction to occur but is not itself involved in the reaction.
Notes
Other Words From
- self-cata·lyst noun
- semi·cata·lyst noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of catalyst1
Example Sentences
But the copper performs another important function: working as a catalyst in the distillation process.
Brunch is a catalyst, brunch is the enforcer of different-rules-for-the-weekend.
We are proud that our film could be a catalyst for even a small change in the ways these boys are treated in China.
Other non-design services, like Adobe Business Catalyst, which hosts email fundraising campaigns and e-commerce, also went down.
And that question is the catalyst for all the ambiguity throughout the film.
This simple act may have been the catalyst which gave Burl the solution to the problem.
We may, then, compare the catalyst to what is known as "a good mixer" in society.
The tactful hostess, the salon leader, is a social catalyst.
When hydrogen peroxide comes in contact with a catalyst, such as permanganate of potash, it breaks down into oxygen and water.
The catalyst which was necessary for the final reaction would be brought to him by Polter.
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