n. pl. me·tas·ta·ses (-sēz′) Medicine 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. [Greek, from methistanai, to change : meta-, meta- + histanai, to cause to stand, place; see stā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] met′a·static (mĕt′ə-stătĭk) adj. met′a·stati·cal·ly adv. |
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