catalysis

noun

ca·​tal·​y·​sis kə-ˈta-lə-səs 

plural catalyses kə-ˈta-lə-ˌsēz 

: a modification and especially increase in the rate of a chemical reaction induced by material unchanged chemically at the end of the reaction

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Traditional catalysis has relied on the use of metals and enzymes. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2021

List and MacMillan, working independently, developed a new kind of catalysis, called organocatalysis, which uses small, organic molecules that allows the process to be cheaper and better for the environment than the traditional methods. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2021

The Nobel panel said List and MacMillan in 2000 independently developed a new way of catalysis. —BostonGlobe.com, 6 Oct. 2021

In a new evaluation run by the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory, NuScale’s nuclear module performed effective catalysis for hydrogen. —Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 14 Dec. 2020

At the surface Where the SrTiO3 tends to fall short is in the catalysis. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 27 May 2020

That crystalline structure imparts mechanical properties that are useful for catalysis, gas storage, and drug delivery, for example. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 July 2019

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Word History

Etymology

Greek katalysis dissolution, from katalyein to dissolve, from kata- + lyein to dissolve, release — more at lose

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

catalysis

noun

ca·​tal·​y·​sis kə-ˈtal-ə-səs 

: the change and especially increase in the rate of a chemical reaction caused by a catalyst

Medical Definition

catalysis

noun

ca·​tal·​y·​sis kə-ˈtal-ə-səs 

plural catalyses -ˌsēz 

: a change and especially increase in the rate of a chemical reaction induced by a catalyst