Main Entry: me·tas·ta·sis

Pronunciation: \mə-ˈtas-tə-səs\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural me·tas·ta·ses \-ˌsēz\

Etymology: New Latin, from Late Latin, transition, from Greek, from methistanai to change, from meta- + histanai to set — more at stand

Date: 1663

1 a : change of position, state, or form b : the spread of a disease-producing agency (as cancer cells) from the initial or primary site of disease to another part of the body; also : the process by which such spreading occurs
2 : a secondary malignant tumor resulting from metastasis

— met·a·stat·ic \ˌme-tə-ˈsta-tik\ adjective

— met·a·stat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb