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  1. catalyst love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Chemistry A substance, usually used in small amounts relative to the reactants, that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process.
  2. n. One that precipitates a process or event, especially without being involved in or changed by the consequences: "A free press ... has remained ... a vital catalyst to an informed and responsible electorate” ( Robert O'Neal).

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. In physical chemistry Same as catalytic agent (which see).

Wiktionary

  1. n. chemistry A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
  2. n. Someone or something that encourages progress or change.
  3. n. automotive A catalytic converter.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. (Chem.) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.
  2. n. something that serves as a precipitating occasion for an event.
  3. n. something or someone that causes events to happen with itself being changed.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. something that causes an important event to happen
  2. n. (chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected

Etymologies

  1. From catalysis +‎ -ist. (Wiktionary)
  2. From catalysis. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

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  • hernesheir A strain of medical marijuana said to relieve symptoms of PMS. Jan 15, 2010

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‘catalyst’ has been looked up 11154 times, loved by 9 people, added to 92 lists, commented on 1 time, and has a Scrabble score of 13.