catalysis
Americannoun
plural
catalyses-
Chemistry. the causing or accelerating of a chemical change by the addition of a catalyst.
-
an action between two or more persons or forces, initiated by an agent that itself remains unaffected by the action.
social catalyses occasioned by controversial writings.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of catalysis
First recorded in 1645–55; from New Latin, from Greek katálȳsis “dissolution,” equivalent to katalȳ́ein “to dissolve” ( kata- cata- + lȳ́ein “to loosen”) + -sis -sis
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The research findings were published online in May 2025 in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental and Energy, a leading journal in the field of energy and environmental catalysis.
From Science Daily • Nov. 5, 2025
"Researchers have been looking at the ways these atomic arrangements change metallic properties -- a big one is catalysis," Freitas says of the process that drives chemical reactions.
From Science Daily • Oct. 14, 2025
More than 95,000 MOFs have so far been discovered with a broad range of applications in fields such as catalysis, gas separation and energy storage.
From Science Daily • May 22, 2024
Other applications areas could include proton conduction, catalysis, water capture and hydrogen storage.
From Science Daily • May 22, 2024
I don't believe we'll be able to build up enough mass to insulate against their negative catalysis ray.
From The Black Star Passes by Campbell, John Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
