metastasis

me·tas·ta·sis   (mĭ-tās'tə-sĭs)    n.   pl. me·tas·ta·ses (-sēz') Pathology Transmission of pathogenic microorganisms or cancerous cells from an original site to one or more sites elsewhere in the body, usually by way of the blood vessels or lymphatics. A secondary cancerous growth formed by transmission of cancerous cells from a primary growth located elsewhere in the body. [Greek, from methistanai, to change : meta-, meta- + histanai, to cause to stand, place; see stā- in Indo-European roots.] met'a·stat'ic (mět'ə-stāt'ĭk) adj., met'a·stat'i·cal·ly adv.

metastasis 

Main Entry: me·tas·ta·sis
Pronunciation: m&-'tas-t&-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural me·tas·ta·ses /-"sEz/
: change of position, state, or form: as a : transfer of a disease-producing agency (as cancer cells orbacteria) from an original site of disease to another part of the body with development of a similar lesion in the new location <metastasis in the lung usually occurs by way of the bloodstream —J. B. Amberson> <metastases of breast cancer to bone —Medical Physics> b : a secondary metastatic growth of a malignant tumor

metastasis me·tas·ta·sis (mə-tās'tə-sĭs)
n. pl. me·tas·ta·ses (-sēz')

1. Transmission of pathogenic microorganisms or cancerous cells from an original site to one or more sites elsewhere in the body, usually by way of the blood vessels or lymphatics.

2. A secondary cancerous growth formed by transmission of cancerous cells from a primary growth located elsewhere in the body.

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met'a·stat'ic (mět'ə-stāt'ĭk) adj.

metastasis   (mə-tās'tə-sĭs)  Pronunciation Key  A cancerous tumor formed by transmission of malignant cells from a primary cancer located elsewhere in the body. metastasize verb