catalysis

[kuh-tal-uh-sis] /kəˈtæl ə sɪs/
noun, plural catalyses
[kuh-tal-uh-seez] /kəˈtæl əˌsiz/ (Show IPA)
1.
Chemistry. the causing or accelerating of a chemical change by the addition of a catalyst.
2.
an action between two or more persons or forces, initiated by an agent that itself remains unaffected by the action:
social catalyses occasioned by controversial writings.
Origin
1645-55; < Neo-Latin < Greek katálȳsis dissolution, equivalent to katalȳ́(ein) to dissolve (kata- cata- + lȳ́ein to loosen) + -sis -sis
Related forms
catalytic
[kat-l-it-ik] /ˌkæt lˈɪt ɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective, noun
catalytical, adjective
catalytically, adverb
anticatalytic, adjective, noun
anticatalytically, adverb
noncatalytic, adjective, noun
noncatalytically, adverb
self-catalysis, noun
semicatalytic, adjective
Examples from the web for catalysis
  • The real key to the process is catalysis, which enables and speeds up the necessary chemical reactions.
  • Frankly, unlike inorganic catalysis, synthetic biology is a burgeoning field.
  • The work could also advance the basic understanding of how changing the shape of particles affects catalysis, he says.
  • Few might suspect the solution to the world's energy problems will come out of the esoteric field of catalysis science.
British Dictionary definitions for catalysis

catalysis

/kəˈtælɪsɪs/
noun (pl) -ses (-ˌsiːz)
1.
acceleration of a chemical reaction by the action of a catalyst
Word Origin
C17: from New Latin, from Greek katalusis, from kataluein to dissolve
Word Origin and History for catalysis
n.

1650s, "dissolution," from Latinized form of Greek katalysis "dissolution, a dissolving" (of governments, military units, etc.), from katalyein "to dissolve," from kata- "down" (or "completely"), see cata-, + lyein "to loosen" (see lose). Chemical sense "change caused by an agent which itself remains unchanged" is attested from 1836, introduced by Swedish chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1779-1848).

catalysis in Medicine

catalysis ca·tal·y·sis (kə-tāl'ĭ-sĭs)
n. pl. ca·tal·y·ses (-sēz')
The action of a catalyst, especially an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction.