Dictionary
Thesaurus
Quotes
Encyclopedia
Translator
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words
Did you know: When you barbecue, you're using a very old word from Haiti. What did it originally mean?

catalyst

 - 7 dictionary results

cat·a·lyst

   [kat-l-ist]
–noun
1.
Chemistry. a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.
2.
something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected.
3.
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.
4.
a person whose talk, enthusiasm, or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic, or energetic.
Use catalyst in a Sentence
Origin:
1900–05; cataly(sis) + (-i)st

—Related forms
self-cat·a·lyst, noun
sem·i·cat·a·lyst, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To catalyst
World English Dictionary
catalyst (ˈkætəlɪst) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  Compare inhibitor a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself suffering any permanent chemical change
2.  a person or thing that causes a change

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

catalyst
1902, formed in Eng. (on analogy of analyst) from Gk. kata "down" + -lysis "a loosening" (comb. form); see lose.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

cat·a·lyst definition

Pronunciation: /ˈkat-əl-əst/
Function: n
: a substance (as an enzyme) that enables a chemical reaction to proceed under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2007 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

catalyst cat·a·lyst (kāt'l-ĭst)
n.
A substance, usually used in small amounts relative to the reactants, that modifies and increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process.

cat'a·lyt'ic (kāt'l-ĭt'ĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
catalyst   (kāt'l-ĭst)  Pronunciation Key 
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.

catalytic adjective (kāt'l-ĭt'ĭk)
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary
catalyst [(kat-uh-list)]

In chemistry, a substance that causes a chemical reaction to occur but is not itself involved in the reaction.

Note: The term catalyst is often used to refer to the prime agent of any change: “She was the catalyst for the reorganization.”
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see catalyst on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitter
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved.
Partner Sites:
MerchantCircleThe Daily BeastUrbanspoonAsk AnswersAsk KidsBloglinesSendoriMotifAnswers