meta

Inflections of 'meta' (n): npl: metae

me•ta¹ n., pl. -tae

Ancient History(in ancient Rome) a column or post, or a group of columns or posts, placed at each end of a racetrack to mark the turning places.

met•a² adj. [Chem.]

Chemistrypertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 3) in the benzene ring that are separated by one carbon atom. Cf. ortho, para ³.See diag. under ortho.

Me•ta n.

meta-,

a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, with the meanings "after,'' "along with,'' "beyond,'' "among,'' "behind,'' and productive in English on the Greek model:metacarpus;metagenesis;metalinguistics.
Chemistry
- (of acids, salts, or their organic derivatives) a prefix denoting the least hydrated of a series:meta-antimonic,HSbO₃;
  meta-antimonous, HSbO₂. Cf. ortho-, pyro-.
- a prefix designating the meta position in the benzene ring. Abbr.: m-. Cf. ortho-, para- ¹.

Also,[esp. before a vowel,] met-.

Greek, prefix and preposition; cognate with Old English mid with, German mit, Gothic mith

meta-, prefix.

meta- comes from Greek, where it has the meanings "after, along with, beyond, among, behind.'' These meanings are found in such words as: metabolism, metamorphosis, metaphor, metaphysics.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

meta-, (sometimes before a vowel) met- prefix

indicating change, alteration, or alternation: metabolism, metamorphosis
(of an academic discipline, esp philosophy) concerned with the concepts and results of the named discipline: metamathematics, meta-ethics
occurring or situated behind or after
(often in italics) denoting that an organic compound contains a benzene ring with substituents in the 1,3-positions: metadinitrobenzene, meta-cresolAbbreviation: m-
Compare ortho-, para-¹
denoting an isomer, polymer, or compound related to a specified compound (often differing from similar compounds that are prefixed by para-): metaldehyde
denoting an oxyacid that is a lower hydrated form of the anhydride or a salt of such an acid: metaphosphoric acid
Compare ortho-

Etymology: Greek, from meta with, after, between, among. Compare Old English mid, mith with, Old Norse meth with, between

'meta' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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