Catalyst
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈkæt.ɪ.lɪst/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Catalyst is a noun meaning (chemistry) A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
Meaning
(chemistry) A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
More Meanings
- (figurative) Something that encourages progress or change.
- (literature) An inciting incident that sets the successive conflict into motion.
- (automotive) A catalytic converter.
- (fantasy) An object that facilitates the casting of a spell (such as a magic wand).
Example Sentences
Economic development and integration are working as a catalyst for peace.
Israel's fear for the reactor—rather than Egypt's of it—was the greater catalyst for war.
The housing crisis is now a “catalyst” for anti-immigrant sentiment, an Irish parliamentary committee warned in November.
Enzymes, the catalysts of biological systems, are remarkable molecular devices that determine the pattern of chemical transformations.
Word Forms
- catalysts
Synonyms for catalyst
Depending on context, synonyms include stimulus, accelerator.
Antonyms for catalyst
Common opposites include inhibitor, dampener, anticatalyst.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include accelerator, catalysis, catalytic, fertilizer, momentum, warm.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.