Definition of "autocatalysis" [au•to•ca•tal•y•sis]

• Catalysis of a chemical reaction by one of the products of the reaction. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "In its broadest sense a living unit or entity is one that can direct chemical changes by catalysis, and at the same time reproduce itself by autocatalysis, that is, by directing the formation of units like itself from other, and usually simpler chemical substances."
• "'' '' 'and at the same time reproduce itself by autocatalysis, that is, by directing the formation of units"
• "Zachriel: With autocatalysis, there is no distinction between the 'hardware' and the 'software'."