quote from here:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htmQuote:
As a spellcaster’s knowledge of magic grows, she can learn to cast spells in ways slightly different from the ways in which the spells were originally designed or learned. Preparing and casting a spell in such a way is harder than normal but, thanks to metamagic feats, at least it is possible.
For wizards, I imagine it's modifications to the spell design that allow it to do different things. For priests, maybe praying for a modified version of the spell?