me·tas·ta·size (m -t s t -s z )intr.v. me·tas·ta·sized, me·tas·ta·siz·ing, me·tas·ta·siz·es 1. To be transmitted or transferred by metastasis. 2. To be changed or transformed, especially dangerously: "a need for love that would metastasize into an insatiable craving for attention" (Michiko Kakutani). 3. To spread, especially destructively: "[disinformation] ... that even now continues to metastasize ... to such a degree that myth threatens to overthrow history" (Gore Vidal). |
metastasize, metastasise [mɪˈtæstəˌsaɪz]
vb
(Medicine / Pathology) (intr) Pathol (esp of cancer cells) to spread to a new site in the body via blood or lymph vessels
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Verb | 1. | metastasize - spread throughout the body; "the cancer had metastasized and the patient could not be saved" spread, distribute - distribute or disperse widely; "The invaders spread their language all over the country" |
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