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catalyst

/ˈkæt.ə.lɪst/ noun B2
  1. A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
  2. Something that encourages progress or change. · (obsolete)· Economic development and integration are working as a catalyst for peace.
  3. An inciting incident that sets the successive conflict into motion.
  4. A catalytic converter.
  5. An object that facilitates the casting of a spell (such as a magic wand).

Plural catalysts

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From the library

This electrified, high-energy iteration of the blues ultimately served as the primary catalyst for an entirely new musical phenomenon.
From the Delta to Memphis, p. 1 · C1
Consequently, the scheme is widely recognized as a catalyst for the vibrant multiculturalism that characterizes contemporary Australian society.
The Snowy Mountains Scheme, p. 1 · C1
The Great Stink, though a profoundly unpleasant historical episode, ultimately served as the indispensable catalyst for a cleaner, healthier, and substantially more modern metropolis.
The Great Stink and the Engineering of a Modern Metropolis, p. 1 · C2

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Words, meanings, pronunciations and translations from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); how common each word is from wordfreq. Made into this dictionary by FluentPlex.