metastasize

(-sīz′)

intransitive verb metastasized, metastasizing

Med. to spread to other parts of the body by metastasis

See metastasize in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb 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).

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