catalyst
ka tuh luhst
- n (chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected
- n something that causes an important event to happen
the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country
- The booing of the crowd acted as a catalyst after which the team gave a good account of itself.
- She was the catalyst who set in motion a series of interconnected events that gave a revolutionary twist to the century's last two decades and helped mankind end the millennium on .
- Finally, his break-up with Ava Gardner provided the perfect catalyst.