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Whet vs Catalyze - What's the difference?

whet | catalyze |

In lang=en terms the difference between whet and catalyze

is that whet is to stimulate or make more keen while catalyze is to inspire significantly by catalysis.

As verbs the difference between whet and catalyze

is that whet is to hone or rub on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening – see whetstone while catalyze is (senseid)to bring about the catalysis of a chemical reaction.

As a noun whet

is the act of whetting something.

whet

English

Verb

(whett)
  • To hone or rub on with some substance, as a piece of stone, for the purpose of sharpening – see whetstone.
  • * Milton
  • The mower whets his scythe.
  • * Byron
  • Here roams the wolf, the eagle whets his beak.
  • To stimulate or make more keen.
  • to whet one's appetite or one's courage
  • * Shakespeare
  • Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, / I have not slept.
  • * 2003-10-20 , Naomi Wolf, The Porn Myth] , [http://nymag.com/ New York Magazine
  • In the end, porn doesn’t whet men’s appetites—it turns them off the real thing.

    Derived terms

    * whetstone

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of whetting something.
  • That which whets or sharpens; especially, an appetizer.
  • * Spectator
  • * sips, drams, and whets
  • Anagrams

    *

    catalyze

    English

    Alternative forms

    * catalyse (mainly UK)

    Verb

  • (senseid)To bring about the catalysis of a chemical reaction.
  • (senseid)To accelerate a process.
  • To inspire significantly by catalysis.