METASTASIS

[me.tas.ta.sis] n, pl -ta.ses [NL, fr. LL, transition, fr. Gk, fr. methistanai to change, fr. meta- + histanai to set--more at stand] (1663): change of position, state, or form: as a: transfer of a disease-producing agency from the site of disease to another part of the body b: a secondary metastatic growth of a malignant tumor -- met.a.stat.ic adj -- met.a.stat.i.cal.ly adv