cat·a·lyze

[kat-l-ahyz]
verb (used with object), cat·a·lyzed, cat·a·lyz·ing.
to act upon by catalysis.
Also, especially British, cat·a·lyse.


Origin:
1885–90; cataly(sis) + (-i)ze

cat·a·lyz·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
catalyse or catalyze (ˈkætəˌlaɪz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
(tr) to influence (a chemical reaction) by catalysis
 
catalyze or catalyze
 
vb
 
'catalyser or catalyze
 
n
 
'catalyzer or catalyze
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Catalyze is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

catalyze
1890, from catalysis on model of analyze/analysis.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

catalyze cat·a·lyze (kāt'l-īz')
v. cat·a·lyzed, cat·a·lyz·ing, cat·a·lyz·es
To modify, especially to increase, the rate of a chemical reaction by catalysis.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
catalyze   (kāt'l-īz')  Pronunciation Key 
To modify, especially to increase, the rate of a chemical reaction through the action of a catalyst.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
The next step is to scale this activity up, to catalyze a national movement.
Enzymes catalyze a wide range of chemical reactions.
The city lacks any focal point of the sort that might catalyze a spontaneous
  public gathering.
Perhaps those were single molecules that could catalyze their own reproduction.
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