catalyst - Definitions from Dictionary.com

8 results for: catalyst

Catalyst Repository
Reduce Litigation Review Costs with Catalyst CR Search/Review Platform.
CatalystSecure.com/CatalystCR

Sponsored Link

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

cat·a·lyst

Audio Help [kat-l-ist] Pronunciation Key

–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.

[Origin: 1900–05; cataly(sis) + (-i)st

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
catalyst

To learn more about catalyst visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

cat·a·lyst Audio Help (kāt'l-ĭst) Pronunciation Key
n.

Chemistry 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.
One that precipitates a process or event, especially without being involved in or changed by the consequences: "A free press ... has remained ... a vital catalyst to an informed and responsible electorate" (Robert O'Neal).

[From catalysis.]

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
catalyst

1902, formed in Eng. (on analogy of analyst) from Gk. kata "down" + -lysis "a loosening" (comb. form); see lose.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

catalyst
noun
1.	(chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected [ant: anticatalyst]
2.	something that causes an important event to happen; "the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
catalyst1 [kӕtəlist] noun

a substance which causes or assists a chemical change in another substance without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change

Arabic:	مادَّةٌ حَفّازَه
Chinese (Simplified):	催化剂
Chinese (Traditional):	催化劑
Czech:	katalyzátor
Danish:	katalysator
Dutch:	katalysator
Estonian:	katalüsaator
Finnish:	katalysaattori
French:	catalyseur
German:	der Katalysator
Greek:	καταλύτης
Hungarian:	katalizátor
Icelandic:	hvati
Indonesian:	katalisator
Italian:	catalizzatore

Japanese:	触媒
Korean:	촉매
Latvian:	katalizators
Lithuanian:	katalizatorius
Norwegian:	katalysator
Polish:	katalizator
Portuguese (Brazil):	catalisador
Portuguese (Portugal):	catalizador
Romanian:	catalizator
Russian:	катализатор
Slovak:	katalyzátor
Slovenian:	katalizator
Spanish:	catalizador
Swedish:	katalysator
Turkish:	katalizör

catalyst2 [kӕtəlist] noun

someone or something that helps bring about a change

Arabic:	حَفّاز، مُحَفِّز
Chinese (Simplified):	促进
Chinese (Traditional):	促進
Czech:	katalyzátor
Danish:	igangsætter; drivkraft; katalysator
Dutch:	katalysator
Estonian:	abivahend
Finnish:	katalysaattori
French:	catalyseur
German:	der Beschleuniger
Greek:	καταλύτης (μτφ.)
Hungarian:	katalizátor
Icelandic:	hvatamaður, hvati
Indonesian:	pencetus
Italian:	catalizzatore

Japanese:	触媒の役をするもの
Korean:	남에게 감화를 주는 것
Latvian:	katalizators
Lithuanian:	kas pagreitina permainas
Norwegian:	katalysator
Polish:	osoba, *rzecz funkcjonująca jako `katalizator`
Portuguese (Brazil):	catalisador
Portuguese (Portugal):	catalizador
Romanian:	catalizator
Russian:	катализатор
Slovak:	katalyzátor
Slovenian:	katalizator
Spanish:	catalizador
Swedish:	katalysator
Turkish:	neden, sebep

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

catalyst Audio Help (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)