Metaplastic
/ˌmɛtəˈplæstɪk/noun
Relating to metaplasia, the transformation of one mature cell or tissue type into another.
Did you know?Its core root, Greek plassein—“to mold or shape”—also gave English words connected with plaster, plasma, and plasticity.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μετά (meta)
“After, beyond, or changed in position or condition”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πλάσσειν (plassein)
“To mold, form, or shape”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μετάπλασις (metaplasis)
“A transformation or change of form”
19th Century
Medical Latin
metaplasia
“Transformation of one kind of tissue into another”
19th–20th Century
English
metaplastic
“Relating to, or characterized by, metaplasia”