n.
Pronunciation: m ə - ' tas-t ə -s ə s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ta · ses \ - ˌ s ē z \
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 \ ˌ me-t ə - ' sta-tik \ adjective
– met · a · stat · i · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb