catalytic converter


noun
  1. an antipollution device in an automotive exhaust system that contains a catalyst for chemically converting some pollutants in the exhaust gases, as carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen, into harmless compounds.

Origin of catalytic converter

1
First recorded in 1960–65

Words Nearby catalytic converter

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How to use catalytic converter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for catalytic converter

catalytic converter

noun
  1. a device using three-way catalysts to reduce the obnoxious and poisonous components of the products of combustion (mainly oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and unburnt hydrocarbons) from the exhausts of motor vehicles: Sometimes shortened to: catcon

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