activator

[ak-tuh-vey-ter] /ˈæk təˌveɪ tər/
noun
1.
a person or thing that activates.
2.
Chemistry, Biochemistry. a catalyst.
3.
any impurity in a mineral that causes luminescence.
Compare inhibitor (def 3).
4.
Orthodontics. a removable appliance, usually of hard plastic, that is worn in the mouth instead of a fixed appliance to help align the teeth and improve the relationship of the lower jaw to the upper.
Origin
activate + -or2
Related forms
nonactivator, noun
Examples from the web for activator
  • It's an enzyme activator, a cell growth factor, and a component of cell membranes.
activator in Medicine

activator ac·ti·va·tor (āk'tə-vā'tər)
n.

  1. An agent that renders another substance active or accelerates a process or reaction.

  2. The fragment produced by chemical cleavage of a proactivator that induces the enzymatic activity of another substance.