If something catalyses a thing or a situation, it makes it active.
例句
Any unexpected circumstance that arises may catalyze a sudden escalation of violence.任何突如其来的情况都可能造成暴力骤然升级。
VERB
(化学)催化
In chemistry, if something catalyses a reaction or event, it causes it to happen.
例句
It had been known for some time that chemical reactions can be catalyzed by materials with large surface areas...人们早已知道,如果材料的表面积足够大,可引起催化反应。The wires do not have a large enough surface to catalyse a big explosion.这些导线覆盖的面积不够大,不足以引发大爆炸。