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View synonyms for catalyst
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.
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Notes
The term catalyst is often used to refer to the prime agent of any change: “She was the catalyst for the reorganization.”
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Other Words From
- self-cata·lyst noun
- semi·cata·lyst noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of catalyst1
First recorded in 1900–05; cataly(sis) + (-i)st
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