Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- 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.
- 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
- n. In physical chemistry Same as catalytic agent (which see).
Wiktionary
- n. A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
- n. Someone or something that encourages progress or change.
- n. A catalytic converter.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.
- n. something that serves as a precipitating occasion for an event.
- n. something or someone that causes events to happen with itself being changed.
WordNet 3.0
- n. something that causes an important event to happen
- n. (chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected
Etymologies
- From catalysis.
Examples
“Malone had filed the word catalyst in his mental Rolodex, right beside another nagging question.”
“ The term catalyst is often used to refer to the prime agent of any change: She was the catalyst for the reorganization.”
“The breakthrough came in 1971 when Yves Chauvin presented new experiments and suggested that the catalyst is a carbon/metal compound in which the metal is bonded to carbon with a double bond.”
“Today, perhaps, the term catalyst is most often heard in connection with purification of vehicle exhausts, a process in which the metals platinum and rhodium catalyze the degradation of the contaminant nitrous oxides.”
“And part of the catalyst is get yourself in trouble.”
“Cultural catalyst" is comically grandiose, yet not inaccurate.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘catalyst’.
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G[r]eek
A collection of words found in English that are either purely Greek or have Greek etymology.
Please add with caution and certainty. Will be regularly updated by me.etymology, philosophy, laconic, disharmony, patriarchic, archaic, phlogiston, aether, aeon, angel, arachnid, rhythm and 322 more...
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GRE Barrons Wordlist
A complete Barron's Wordlist for GRE preparation. Your online flashcard replacement.
abase, abash, abate, abbreviate, abdicate, aberrant, aberration, abet, abeyance, abhor, abject, abjure and 4084 more...
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another list
zombie apocalypse, zombie snacktime, molotov cocktail, cantharidin, catharsis, rigor mortis, ultimatum, catalyst, extremities, redemption, survivalist, psycho-fact
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lysts
a list of -lysts - lyst is Norwegian for "delight" and "zest" among other things
analyst, by-the-side analyst, paranormalyst, cryptanalyst, catalyst, photocatalyst, autocatalyst, broadclyst, cocatalyst, listz's lysts, listing lysts, river clyst and 19 more...
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cata-, cat-, kata-
down(ward), wrongly or badly, completely, against
catadromous, catastrophe, katabatic, catachresis, cataclysm, catapult, catatonic, catatonia, catawampus, catalyst, catabolic, catabolism and 24 more...
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Synergy
Add words that add to added words.
complementarity, additionality, catalyst, the whole is grea...
hernesheir A strain of medical marijuana said to relieve symptoms of PMS. Jan 15, 2010