catalyst

Từ điển WordNet v3.1 - WordNet Dictionary

noun

1. (chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected
• Syn:
accelerator
• Ant:
anticatalyst
• Derivationally related forms:
catalyze
• Topics:
chemistry, chemical science
• Hypernyms:
activator
• Hyponyms:
biocatalyst, enzyme, platinum black
2. something that causes an important event to happen
- the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country
• Hypernyms:
causal agent, cause, causal agency