Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Metastasis \Me*tas"ta*sis\, n.; pl. {Metastases}. [L.,
   transition, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to place in another way; ? after
   + ? to place.]
   1. (Theol.) A spiritual change, as during baptism.

   2. (Med.) A change in the location of a disease, as from one
      part to another. --Dunglison.

   3. (Physiol.) The act or process by which matter is taken up
      by cells or tissues and is transformed into other matter;
      in plants, the act or process by which are produced all of
      those chemical changes in the constituents of the plant
      which are not accompanied by a production of organic
      matter; metabolism.

Source : WordNet®

metastasis
     n 1: the spreading of a disease to another part of the body
     2: the organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are
        necessary for life [syn: {metabolism}, {metabolic process}]
     [also: {metastases} (pl)]

metastases
     See {metastasis}