metastasise
/məˈtæstəˌsaɪz/
verb
- (British spelling) To spread from the original tumor to other parts of the body, as cancer cells do.
- The biopsy showed that the tumour had not yet metastasised.
- If the cancer metastasises, it becomes much harder to treat.
- Doctors are monitoring the patient closely to see if the disease metastasises.
- (figurative) To spread and cause harm in new areas, like a problem or negative influence.
- The company's toxic culture metastasised, affecting every department.
- The scandal metastasised from a local issue into a national crisis.
- Without intervention, the conflict could metastasise into a full-scale war.
Synonyms