catalyze

American

[kat-l-ahyz] / ˈkæt lˌaɪz /

especially British, catalyse

verb (used with object)

catalyzed, catalyzing

to act upon by catalysis.

catalyze Scientific

/ kăt′l-īz′ /

To modify, especially to increase, the rate of a chemical reaction through the action of a catalyst.

Other Word Forms

catalyzer noun

Etymology

Origin of catalyze

First recorded in 1885–90; cataly(sis) + (-i)ze

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.

It helped catalyze scientific interest in Himalayan glacial lakes.

From The Wall Street Journal

‘This is a really big moment in terms of expanding Apple’s product lineup into what’s possible, and it could reignite their wearable segment and also catalyze their ecosystem.”

From Barron's

A French court held the first international criminal trial for a 2007 alleged Russian corruption scheme that cost Denmark’s big bank $2 billion in fines and catalyzed the world’s financial sanctions laws.

From Barron's

The materials were then evaluated for their ability to catalyze hydrogen peroxide production.

From Science Daily

One of the impacts is inventory-driven, says OPIS, the news and data energy service from Dow Jones: “Short-term, buyers may build inventory as prices increase, catalyzing a short-lived uplift in demand.”

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023