catalyst

/'kætəlist/

Thân thiện

The scientist adds a catalyst to the chemical reaction.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • An agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action: A catalyst is a person, event, or thing that causes an important change or event to happen more quickly.
   • (Chemistry) A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process: In chemistry, a catalyst is a substance that initiates or accelerates a reaction while itself remaining unchanged at the end.

Examples of Usage

• General Meaning:
  • The new policy served as a catalyst for economic reform.
  • Her speech was the catalyst that inspired the community to take action.
• Chemistry Meaning:
  • Platinum is often used as a catalyst in catalytic converters.
  • Enzymes act as biological catalysts in the human body.

Advanced Usage

• "to act as a catalyst for": to be the primary cause or agent that starts a process of change.
  • The scandal acted as a catalyst for a complete overhaul of the company's ethics policies.
• Catalytic role: describing the function of enabling or accelerating a process.
  • The manager played a catalytic role in fostering innovation within the team.

Variants and Related Words

• Catalyze (verb): To cause or accelerate a change or reaction.
  • The invention of the internet catalyzed a global communication revolution.
• Catalytic (adjective): Causing or relating to catalysis; acting as a catalyst.
  • The agreement had a catalytic effect on regional cooperation.
• Catalysis (noun): The process or action of causing or accelerating a chemical reaction by a catalyst.
  • The reaction proceeds via acid catalysis.

Synonyms

• General: Stimulus, impetus, spark, trigger, accelerant.
• Chemistry: Accelerator, enzyme (in biochemistry).

Antonyms

• General: Inhibitor, hindrance, obstacle, barrier.
• Chemistry: Inhibitor (a substance that slows down or prevents a chemical reaction).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A catalyst for change: A common phrase emphasizing the role in initiating transformation.
  • The financial crisis was a catalyst for change in banking regulations.

Học thuật

Noun

1. something that causes an important event to happen
   • the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country
2. (chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected

Từ đồng nghĩa

• accelerator