autocatalysis

[aw-toh-kuh-tal-uh-sis]

noun, plural au·to·ca·tal·y·ses [aw-toh-kuh-tal-uh-seez] /ˌɔ toʊ kəˈtæl əˌsiz/. Chemistry, Biochemistry.

catalysis caused by a catalytic agent formed during a reaction.

Origin of autocatalysis

First recorded in 1890–95; auto-¹ + catalysis

Related formsau·to·cat·a·lyt·ic

[aw-toh-kat-l-it-ik] /ˌɔ toʊˌkæt lˈɪt ɪk/, adjectiveau·to·cat·a·lyt·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for autocatalytic

autocatalysis

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)

the catalysis of a reaction in which the catalyst is one of the products of the reaction

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

autocatalytic in Medicine

autocatalysis

[ô′tō-kə-tăl′ĭ-sĭs]

n.

Catalysis of a chemical reaction by one of the products of the reaction.

Related formsau′to•cat′a•lyt′ic (-kăt′l-ĭt′ĭk) adj.