catalysis

American  

[kuh-tal-uh-sis] / kəˈtæl ə sɪs /

noun

• catalyses
  plural

1. Chemistry. the causing or accelerating of a chemical change by the addition of a catalyst.

2. 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.

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catalysis British  

/ kəˈtælɪsɪs /

noun

1. acceleration of a chemical reaction by the action of a catalyst

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-catalysis
  noun
• anticatalytic
  adjective
• catalytic
  adjective
• catalytical
  adjective
• noncatalytic
  adjective
• semicatalytic
  adjective
• anticatalytically
  adverb
• catalytically
  adverb
• noncatalytically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• catalyses
  plural

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

See Examples For:

catalysis catalyses

The metallic Ni observed after a reaction may simply form when nickel oxide is reduced by syngas at high temperatures, rather than representing the species that actually performs the catalysis.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026

Second is a recovery in catalysis alongside abating forex headwinds that should let Clariant generate good earnings growth in 2027, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

"Our study provides a new strategy for engineering biomimetic nanoreactors that increasingly replicate the sophisticated functions of living cells, opening new opportunities in artificial photosynthesis, energy catalysis, and synthetic chemistry," said Prof. Li.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026

This ability to fine-tune surface composition provides a powerful new way to design materials for electronics, catalysis, energy storage, photonics, and other applications.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 4, 2026

The chemical theory maintains that after the infectious element has been received into the body it acts as a ferment, and gives rise to certain morbid processes, upon the principle of catalysis.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 787, January 31, 1891 by Various

This gene encodes the enzyme GA20 oxidase 2, which catalyses the production of highly active forms of gibberellin3,4.

From Nature ● Jul. 14, 2020

“Suppression catalyses people to fight back,” said Chan, who is also a sociology professor.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 4, 2020

When an siRNA binds to its target mRNA, it catalyses the destruction of that molecule.

From Nature ● Oct. 15, 2019

Having intended to avoid marriage until his career was fully under way, he falls prey to social pressure; the perception that he and Rosamond are already attached catalyses their engagement.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 21, 2018

Reith and co-workers from the universities of Adelaide and Halle, Germany, for example, have started studying the biochemical process that catalyses the precipitation of gold from solution in C. metallidurans.

From Nature ● Mar. 13, 2013