katalyst

Noun

catalyst (plural catalysts)

1. A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
   • Enzymes, the catalysts of biological systems, are remarkable molecular devices that determine the pattern of chemical transformations.1988, Lubert Stryer, Biochemistry, 3rd edition, page 177
2. (encourages) Something that encourages progress or change.
   • (obsolete)

   Synonyms:

   stimulus, straw that stirs the drink, solicitor

   Antonyms:

   inhibitor, dampener

3. An inciting incident that sets the successive conflict into motion.
   • The current view by both Labour and Conservative politicians is that the state of the UK railway is unsustainable, and the pandemic acted as a catalyst in exposing its weaknesses.2023 May 31, Tammy Samuel, Fergus McLaverty, “The political picture: what lies ahead for Britain's railways?”, in RAIL, number 984, page 31
4. A catalytic converter.
5. An object that facilitates the casting of a spell (such as a magic wand).