Chapter Cata to Catastrophism of C by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Catalog
(Cat"a*log) n. & v. Catalogue.

Catalogize
(Cat"a*lo*gize) v. t. To insert in a catalogue; to register; to catalogue. [R.] Coles.

Catalogue
(Cat"a*logue) n. [F., fr. catalogus, fr. Gr. a counting up, list, fr. to count up; kata` down, completely + to say.] A list or enumeration of names, or articles arranged methodically, often in alphabetical order; as, a catalogue of the students of a college, or of books, or of the stars.

Card catalogue, a catalogue, as of books, having each item entered on a separate card, and the cards arranged in cases by subjects, or authors, or alphabetically. — Catalogue raisonné[F.], a catalogue of books, etc., classed according to their subjects.

Syn. — List; roll; index; schedule; enumeration; inventory. See List.

Catalogue
(Cat"a*logue), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catalogued ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cataloguing ] To make a list or catalogue; to insert in a catalogue.

Cataloguer
(Cat"a*log`uer) n. A maker of catalogues; esp. one skilled in the making of catalogues.

Catalpa
(Ca*tal"pa) n. [From the language of the Indians of Carolina, where Catesby discovered this tree in the year 1726.] (Bot.) A genus of American and East Indian trees, of which the best know species are the Catalpa bignonioides, a large, ornamental North American tree, with spotted white flowers and long cylindrical pods, and the C. speciosa, of the Mississipi valley; — called also Indian bean.

Catalysis
(Ca*tal"y*sis) n.; pl. Catalyse. (#) [ML., fr. Gr. dissolution, fr. to destroy, dissolve; kata` down, wholly + to loose.]

1. Dissolution; degeneration; decay. [R.]

Sad catalysis and declension of piety.
Evelyn.

2. (Chem.) (a) A process by which reaction occurs in the presence of certain agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere contact. It is now believed that such reactions are attended with the formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by alternate composition and decomposition the agent is apparenty left unchanged; as, the catalysis of making ether from alcohol by means of sulphuric acid; or catalysis in the action of soluble ferments (as diastase, or ptyalin) on starch. (b) The catalytic force.

Catalytic
(Cat`a*ly"tic) a. Relating to, or causing, catalysis. "The catalytic power is ill understood." Ure.

Catalytic force, that form of chemical energy formerly supposed to determine catalysis.

Catalytic
(Cat`a*lyt"ic), n. (Chem.) An agent employed in catalysis, as platinum black, aluminium chloride, etc.

Catamaran
(Cat`a*ma*ran"), n. [The native East Indian name.]

1. A kind of raft or float, consisting of two or more logs or pieces of wood lashed together, and moved by paddles or sail; — used as a surf boat and for other purposes on the coasts of the East and West Indies and South America. Modified forms are much used in the lumber regions of North America, and at life-saving stations.

2. Any vessel with twin hulls, whether propelled by sails or by steam; esp., one of a class of double- hulled pleasure boats remarkable for speed.