catalyst

BrE /ˈkætəlɪst/ AmE /ˈkætəlɪst/

noun en → es

1 CHEMISTRY [singular] B2

a substance that causes or speeds up a chemical reaction when added to it, but is not changed or used up itself

catalizador, catalizante

  • a catalyst for something

Collocations chemical reaction · industrial process

  • The new catalyst speeds up the chemical reaction.

    El nuevo catalizador acelera la reacción química.

2 EVENT [singular] B2

an event or person that causes a change to happen, especially one that makes something start happening more quickly than it would have done otherwise

factor desencadenante, catalizador (de cambios)

  • a catalyst for change

Collocations social change · political movement

  • The economic crisis was a catalyst for political reform.

    La crisis económica fue un factor desencadenante para la reforma política.