catalyze

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈkætəˌlaɪz/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To cause or accelerate a chemical reaction by acting as a catalyst, without being consumed in the process.; To bring about or accelerate a change, event, or process, often used figuratively.; To stimulate or initiate a reaction or series of events in a broader, non-chemical context.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: catalyzes Past: catalyzed Past part.: catalyzed Pres part.: catalyzing

Collocations

catalyze a reactioncatalyze changecatalyze growthcatalyze the processcatalyze innovation

Derivatives

catalystcatalyticcatalysiscatalyticallycatalyzer

Synonyms

stimulatetriggeracceleratepromotefacilitatespur

Antonyms

inhibithinderimpede

Commonly confused

catalyst
EN: 'Catalyst' is the noun (the agent that causes change); 'catalyze' is the verb (the act of causing change).
catalyse
EN: 'Catalyse' is the British English spelling of the same verb; 'catalyze' is the American English spelling.

Spelling tips

EN: American English uses 'catalyze' (with 'z'), while British English uses 'catalyse' (with 's'). Do not confuse the verb 'catalyze' with the noun 'catalyst'.

💬 Examples

  1. The enzyme catalyzes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.

  2. The economic crisis catalyzed a wave of political reform across the region.

  3. Her groundbreaking research catalyzed new interest in the field of quantum computing.