the reduction of the molecular weight of hydrocarbons by a catalyst, accomplished in a petroleum refinery by a type of chemical reactor (catalytic cracker) . Cf. cracker (def. 8), cracking (def. 1).
CATALYTIC CRACKING
Meaning of CATALYTIC CRACKING in English
Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary. Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House . 2012