catalyst
noun/ˈkætəlɪst/
/ˈkætəlɪst/
- (chemistry) a substance that makes a chemical reaction happen faster without being changed itself
- Chlorine will act as a catalyst.
- catalyst (for something) a person or thing that causes a change
- I see my role as being a catalyst for change.
- The riots were later seen as the catalyst for the new political developments.
Word Originearly 20th cent.: from catalysis, ‘the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst’, on the pattern of analyst.
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catalyst