Metastasize

Metastasize is a verb that means to dramatically spread. The Greek word methistanai (methy STAHN ay) means ‘to change.’ This word later evolved into metastasis, a word for a disease, which later became our word of the day. Metastasize usually refers to a growth of something malignant in the body, but it can also be used metaphorically. For example: The payroll difficulties in our office metastasized when our computers went down. After that, the entire company was having problems cashing their checks.