metaplasia

American

[met-uh-pley-zhuh, -zhee-uh] / ˌmɛt əˈpleɪ ʒə, -ʒi ə /

noun

Pathology.

the transformation of one type of tissue into another.

metaplasia British

/ ˌmɛtəˈpleɪzɪə /

noun

the transformation of one kind of tissue into a different kind

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

metaplastic adjective

Etymology

Origin of metaplasia

First recorded in 1885–90; meta- + -plasia

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The area is known as a "hotspot for the development of metaplasia" -- the replacement of one type of cell by another.

From Science Daily

Individuals afflicted with intestinal metaplasia cells face a sixfold increased risk of succumbing to this lethal cancer.

From Science Daily

This discovery highlights the importance of screening for intestinal metaplasia in managing stomach cancer risk.

From Science Daily

Intestinal metaplasia, which is a change in the cells of the mucous membrane lining the stomach that often stems from chronic gastritis and manifests with symptoms akin to acid reflux, is also a sinister link to stomach cancer.

From Science Daily

The study offers clues into whether intestinal metaplasia cells directly transform into stomach cancer.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023