Word Study
catalpa bignioides |
catalpa speciosa |
catalufa |
catalyse |
catalysis |
catalyst
| catalytic
| catalytic converter
| catalytic cracker
| catalytically
| catalyze
catalyst
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun catalyst has 2 senses
- catalyst(n = noun.substance) accelerator - (chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected; Array is a kind of activator
- catalyst(n = noun.person) Array - something that causes an important event to happen; "the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country" is a kind of causal agency, causal agent, cause
has particulars: biocatalyst, enzyme, platinum black
Antonym: anticatalyst
Derived form verb catalyze1
CIDE DICTIONARY
catalyst, n.
- a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected; as, thousands of enzymes serve in concert as calaysts to produce the sequence of reactions we call “life“; the industrial production of cheap ammonia depended on finding a good catalyst. [WordNet 1.5]
- something that serves as a precipitating occasion for an event; as, the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country."A
catalyst is never the main cause of an event, but may serve to hasten events for which the underlying causes are present prior to the appearance or occurrence of thecatalyst ." [WordNet 1.5] - something or someone that causes events to happen with itself being changed. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
catalyst, n.
1 Chem. a substance that, without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change, increases the rate of a reaction.
2 a person or thing that precipitates a change.
1 Chem. a substance that, without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change, increases the rate of a reaction.
2 a person or thing that precipitates a change.
Etymology
as CATALYSIS after analyst
THESAURUS
catalyst
agent, agent provocateur, agitator, agitprop, alterant, alterative, alterer, author, begetter, beginner, catalysis, catalytic agent, causer, creator, decay, demagogue, dialysis, dissociation, effector, engenderer, exciter, father, ferment, firebrand, fission, fomenter, generator, goad, hydrolysis, hydrolyst, impetus, impulse, incendiary, incentive, incitation, incitement, inciter, inflamer, innovationist, innovator, inspirer, instigator, introducer, leaven, maker, mischief-maker, modificator, modifier, mother, motivation, mover, originator, parent, photolysis, precursor, prime mover, primum mobile, producer, provocateur, provoker, rabble-rouser, ringleader, rouser, seditionary, seditionist, sire, splitting, spur, stimulant, thermolysis, transformer, transmogrifier, troublemaker, urger, yeast
For further exploring for "catalyst" in Webster Dictionary Online
