kəˈtaləsə̇s noun
( plural cataly·ses -əˌsēz)
Etymology: Greek katalysis, from katalyein to dissolve, from kata- cata- + lyein to loosen, release — more at lose
1. : the change in the rate of a chemical reaction brought about by often small amounts of a substance that is unchanged chemically at the end of the reaction ; specifically : acceleration of a reaction (as the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide in the presence of platinized asbestos) — compare autocatalysis , contact catalysis , negative catalysis
2. : an action or reaction between two or more persons or forces provoked or precipitated by a separate agent or force, especially by one that is essentially unaltered by the reaction
a representative list of questions … valuable for the catalysis of class discussions — B.S.Meyer & D.B.Anderson
George Washington wrote friends of the powerful catalysis that “Common Sense” was working — Eric Goldman