Catalysis

Chemistry. the causing or accelerating of a chemical change by the addition of a .
an action between two or more persons or forces, initiated by an agent that itself remains unaffected by the action:
social catalyses occasioned by controversial writings.
Historical Examples

We call this catalysis, catalytic action, the action of presence, or by what learned name we choose.
Medical Essays Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

We may look upon this process as a special kind of catalysis.
The Wonders of Life Ernst Haeckel

They’ve found the secret of catalysis, and can actually synthesize any catalytic agent they want.
Islands of Space John W Campbell

“I think you can rely upon your powers of catalysis, Dorothy,” he said.
The Vanity Girl Compton Mackenzie

The phenomenon known as “catalysis” is of common occurrence in both inorganic and organic chemistry.
The Chemistry of Plant Life Roscoe Wilfred Thatcher

We should see the building of crystals, catalysis, and the movements of unstable compounds.
The Last Harvest John Burroughs

noun (pl) -ses (-ˌsiːz)
acceleration of a chemical reaction by the action of a catalyst
n.

1650s, “dissolution,” from Latinized form of Greek katalysis “dissolution, a dissolving” (of governments, military units, etc.), from katalyein “to dissolve,” from kata- “down” (or “completely”), see cata-, + lyein “to loosen” (see lose). Chemical sense “change caused by an agent which itself remains unchanged” is attested from 1836, introduced by Swedish chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1779-1848).

catalysis ca·tal·y·sis (kə-tāl’ĭ-sĭs)
n. pl. ca·tal·y·ses (-sēz’)
The action of a catalyst, especially an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction.