Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • A term applied to evolutionary stages or conditions in which organisms are degenerating toward sterility, as a result either of too wide cross-breeding or of too narrow inbreeding. Aberrant or mutative hybrids and abrupt mutative variations or sports appear in the catalytic stages. Compare dialytic, 4, *hemilytic, and *prostholytic.
  • noun Same as catalytic agent.
  • Of, pertaining to, or characterized by catalysis; having the power of decomposing a compound body apparently by mere contact; resulting from catalysis.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Chem.) An agent employed in catalysis, as platinum black, aluminium chloride, etc.
  • adjective Relating to, or causing, catalysis.
  • adjective that form of chemical energy formerly supposed to determine catalysis.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective chemistry Of or relating to a catalyst; having properties facilitating chemical reaction or change.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective relating to or causing or involving catalysis

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The term catalytic is loosely used by RNA world enthusiasts who put forth the argument that RNA catalytic properties could have initially substituted for those of proteins.

    Conceptual Barriers to Open Questions 2008

  • It only treats, by way of analogy, the subject of the ability of RV+NS to rapidly acquire peaks of fitness, and if you extend the analogy (as I have done) to something like protein catalytic rates then you can understand how highly catalytic proteins could evolve and not need to be assembled tornado-in-a-junkyard fashion by random chance.

    The Weasel Thread 2009

  • It only treats, by way of analogy, the subject of the ability of RV+NS to rapidly acquire peaks of fitness, and if you extend the analogy (as I have done) to something like protein catalytic rates then you can understand how highly catalytic proteins could evolve and not need to be assembled tornado-in-a-junkyard fashion by random chance.

    The Weasel Thread 2009

  • BTW - immigrants (be they illegal or legal) contribute to urban sprawl, increased pollution from cars, increased pollution from power plants, increased usage of water, increased usage of mined metals (in catalytic converters, cell phones, jewelry, etc) and deforastion.

    Sound Politics: Sustain This! 2006

  • The pace and style of political change is set by what might be called the catalytic nations, radiating their influence to their immediate neighbors, prompting also imitation among the more distant, and leaving only a few isolated regions impervious to the impact of new political fashions and ideas.

    Out of Control Zbigniew Brzezinski 1993

  • Both metals are used to make car exhaust filters, known as catalytic converters, making their prices sensitive to fluctuations in automotive production.

    Gold Closes Above $1,500 for First Time Tatyana Shumsky 2011

  • The noble metals are widely used in car exhaust filters, known as catalytic converters, leaving their prices sensitive to disruptions in the automotive sector.

    Gold Prices Edge Higher Tatyana Shumsky 2011

  • Platinum and palladium are widely used in car-exhaust filters, known as catalytic converters, with auto-catalyst demand accounting for about 46% of platinum and 61% of palladium consumption, according to specialty chemicals company Johnson Matthey PLC.

    EU Troubles Lift Gold; Platinum, Palladium Sink on Car Sales Tatyana Shumsky 2011

  • Platinum and palladium are widely used in car-exhaust filters, known as catalytic converters, with auto-catalyst demand accounting for about 46% of platinum and 61% of palladium consumption, according to specialty chemicals company Johnson Matthey PLC.

    EU Troubles Lift Gold; Platinum, Palladium Sink on Car Sales Tatyana Shumsky 2011

  • Platinum and palladium are primarily used in car exhaust filters, known as catalytic converters with auto-catalyst demand accounting for around 46% of platinum and 61% of palladium consumption, according to specialty chemicals company Johnson Matthey PLC.

    Gold Falls On Easing Inflation Fears Tatyana Shumsky 2011

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