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catalyst
[ kat-l-ist ]
/ ˈkæt l ɪst /
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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.
VIDEO FOR CATALYST
Can A Person Be A Catalyst?
A catalyst means "something that causes activity, an event, or change." And usually, these events and changes are big. But, can a catalyst be a person?
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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
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Which sentence is correct?
Origin of catalyst
First recorded in 1900–05; cataly(sis) + (-i)st
OTHER WORDS FROM catalyst
self-cat·a·lyst, nounsem·i·cat·a·lyst, nounWords nearby catalyst
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use catalyst in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for catalyst
catalyst
/ (ˈkætəlɪst) /
noun
a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself suffering any permanent chemical changeCompare inhibitor (def. 2)
a person or thing that causes a change
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
Scientific definitions for catalyst
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.
Other words from catalyst
catalytic adjective (kăt′l-ĭt′ĭk)The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for catalyst
catalyst
[ (kat-uh-list) ]
In chemistry, a substance that causes a chemical reaction to occur but is not itself involved in the reaction.
notes for catalyst
The term catalyst is often used to refer to the prime agent of any change: “She was the catalyst for the reorganization.”
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.