the spreading of a disease, esp cancer cells, from one part of the body to another
2.
a transformation or change, as in rhetoric, from one point to another
3. a rare word for metabolism
Derived forms
metastatic (ˌmɛtəˈstætɪk)
adjective
metastatically (ˌmetaˈstatically)
adverb
Word origin
C16: via Latin from Greek: transition
metastasis in American English
(məˈtæstəsɪs)
nounWord forms: pluralmeˈtastaˌses (məˈtæstəˌsiz)
1. Rare
change of form or matter; transformation
2. Medicine
the spread of disease from one part of the body to another unrelated to it, as in the transfer of the cells of a malignant tumor by way of the bloodstream or lymphatics
Derived forms
metastatic (ˌmetaˈstatic) (ˌmɛtəˈstætɪk)
adjective
metastatically (ˌmetaˈstatically)
adverb
Word origin
ModL < LL, a passing over, transition < Gr < methistanai, to place in another way, change < meta, after (see meta-) + histanai, to place (see stand)