different between accelerator vs catalyst

English

Etymology

• First attested in 1611.
• (motor vehicle): First attested in 1900.
• accelerate +? -or

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /æk.?s?l.?.??e?.t?/, /æk.?s?l.?.??e?t.?/, /?k.?s?l.?.??e?t.?/

Noun

accelerator (plural accelerators)

1. One who, or that which, accelerates.

2. A device for causing acceleration.
3. (chemistry) A substance which speeds up chemical reactions.
4. (vehicles) A pedal causing the vehicle to accelerate when it is pressed.

5. (photography) A chemical that reduces development time.
6. (physics) A device that accelerates charged subatomic particles.
7. (physiology, medicine) A muscle or nerve that speeds the performance of an action.
8. (computing) An accelerator key.
9. (computing) A computer component using dedicated hardware to accelerate the processing and display of graphics.
10. (historical) A light van to take mails between a post office and a railway station.

Synonyms

(accelerator pedal):

• (North America) gas pedal, gas
• throttle
• go pedal

(accelerates subatomic particles):

• particle accelerator
• atom smasher

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

• retrocaecal

Latin

Verb

acceler?tor

1. second-person singular future passive imperative of acceler?
2. third-person singular future passive imperative of acceler?

Romanian

Etymology

From French accélérateur

Adjective

accelerator m or n (feminine singular acceleratoare, masculine plural acceleratori, feminine and neuter plural acceleratoare)

1. accelerative

Declension

Swedish

Noun

accelerator c

1. (chemistry) accelerator; a substance which speeds up chemical reactions.
2. (physics) accelerator; a device which accelerates different kinds of particles to large velocities

Declension

English

Etymology

From catalysis +? -ist.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?kæt.?l.?st/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?kæt.?.l?st/

Noun

catalyst (plural catalysts)

1. (chemistry) A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
   • 1988, Lubert Stryer Biochemistry, 3rd edition, page 177

     Enzymes, the catalysts of biological systems, are remarkable molecular devices that determine the pattern of chemical transformations.

2. Someone or something that encourages progress or change.

   Economic development and integration are working as a catalyst for peace.

   • 2006, The Freedom Writers, with Erin Gruwell, The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them, Diary 74

     Rosa Parks was a true catalyst for change and she was only one person. Hearing about Rosa Parks and her protest showed me that there is hope for me and all the students in Ms. G's classes to truly be catalysts for change.
3. (literature) An inciting incident that sets the successive conflict into motion.
4. (automotive) A catalytic converter.

Synonyms

• (Someone or something that encourages progress or change): stimulus, straw that stirs the drink

Antonyms

• (something that encourages change): inhibitor
• (something that enhances or accelerates): dampener

Derived terms

• catalyse, catalyze
• catalysis
• catalytic

Translations

See also

• enzyme