( BrE ) ( NAmE cata·lyze ) / ˈkætəlaɪz; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] ( chemistry ) to make a chemical reaction happen faster
► cata·lysis / kəˈtæləsɪs; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
the catalysis of organic reactions
► cata·lytic / ˌkætəˈlɪtɪk; NAmE / adjective :
catalytic processes
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WORD ORIGIN
late 19th cent.: from catalysis the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst , on the pattern of analyse .