Catalyst vs Spark - What's the difference?
catalyst | spark |
(chemistry) A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
* 1988 , Biochemistry , 3rd edition, page 177
Someone or something that encourages progress or change.
* 1978 , Ernest George Schwiebert, Trout , Volume 2
* 2004 , Michael B. Oren, Six Days of War: June 1967 and the making of the modern Middle East , page 76
* 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
* '>citation
(literature) An inciting incident which that sets the successive conflict into motion.
(automotive) A catalytic converter.
A small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire.
A short or small burst of electrical discharge.
A small, shining body, or transient light; a sparkle.
(figuratively) A small amount of something, such as an idea, that has the potential to become something greater, just as a spark can start a fire.
* Shakespeare
* John Locke
* 2013 , Phil McNulty, "[http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23830980]", BBC Sport , 1 September 2013:
(in plural'' sparks ''but treated as a singular ) A ship's radio operator.
(UK, slang) An electrician.
To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
* {{quote-news
, year=2012
, date=May 5
, author=Phil McNulty
, title=Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
, work=BBC Sport
To give off a spark or sparks.
A gallant, a foppish young man.
* Prior
A beau, lover.
As nouns the difference between catalyst and spark
is that catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process while spark is a small particle of glowing matter, either molten or on fire.As a verb spark is
to trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).catalyst
English
Noun
(en noun)- Enzymes, the catalysts of biological systems, are remarkable molecular devices that determine the pattern of chemical transformations.
- Economic development and integration are working as a catalyst for peace.
- It was a morning baptized by my first cup of coffee, freshly brewed over a gravel-bar fire, while they celebrated with the stronger catalyst of sour-mash whiskey in their fishing-vest cups.
- Israel's fear for the reactor—rather than Egypt's of it—was the greater catalyst for war.
- 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.
Synonyms
* (Someone or something that encourages progress or change) stimulus, straw that stirs the drinkAntonyms
* (something that encourages change) inhibitor * (something that enhances or accelerates) dampenerDerived terms
* catalyse, catalyze * catalysis * catalyticSee also
* enzymespark
English
(wikipedia spark)Etymology 1
From Middle English sparke, sperke, from Old English spearca, from (etyl) ).Noun
(en noun)- if any spark of life be yet remaining
- We have here and there a little clear light, some sparks of bright knowledge .
- Everton's Marouane Fellaini looks one certain arrival but Moyes, who also saw United held to a draw by Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday, needs even more of a spark in a midfield that looked laboured by this team's standards.
Synonyms
* gnast * beginnings, germ, glimmerDerived terms
* sparkle * bright spark * spark arrester * spark coil * spark gap * spark knock * spark of life * spark plug * spark transmitter * sparks flyVerb
(en verb)citation, page= , passage=The introduction of substitute Andy Carroll sparked Liverpool into life and he pulled a goal back just after the hour - and thought he had equalised as Kenny Dalglish's side laid siege to Chelsea's goal in the closing stages.}}
Derived terms
* spark off * sparkleEtymology 2
probably Scandinavian, akin to (etyl) sparkr 'sprightly'Noun
(en noun)- The finest sparks and cleanest beaux.
