17 results for: meta-

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

meta-

1.	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.

a.	(of acids, salts, or their organic derivatives) a prefix denoting the least hydrated of a series: meta-antimonic, HSbO₃; meta-antimonous, HSbO₂. Compare ortho-, pyro-.

b.	a prefix designating the meta position in the benzene ring. Abbreviation: m-. Compare ortho-, para-¹.

Also, especially before a vowel, met-.

[Origin: < Gk, prefix and prep.; c. OE mid with, G mit, Goth mith

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
meta-

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

meta- or met-
pref.

1. Later in time: metestrus.
2. At a later stage of development: metanephros.
3. Change; transformation: metachromatism.
4. Alternation: metagenesis.
5. Beyond; transcending; more comprehensive: metalinguistics.
6. At a higher state of development: metazoan.
7. Derivative or related chemical substance: metaprotein.
8. Of or relating to one of three possible isomers of a benzene ring with two attached chemical groups, in which the carbon atoms with attached groups are separated by one unsubstituted carbon atom: meta-dibromobenzene.
Situated behind: metacarpus.
1. Change; transformation: metachromatism.
2. Alternation: metagenesis.
3. Beyond; transcending; more comprehensive: metalinguistics.
4. At a higher state of development: metazoan.
5. Derivative or related chemical substance: metaprotein.
6. Of or relating to one of three possible isomers of a benzene ring with two attached chemical groups, in which the carbon atoms with attached groups are separated by one unsubstituted carbon atom: meta-dibromobenzene.
1. Beyond; transcending; more comprehensive: metalinguistics.
2. At a higher state of development: metazoan.
3. Derivative or related chemical substance: metaprotein.
4. Of or relating to one of three possible isomers of a benzene ring with two attached chemical groups, in which the carbon atoms with attached groups are separated by one unsubstituted carbon atom: meta-dibromobenzene.
Having undergone metamorphosis: metasomatic.
1. Derivative or related chemical substance: metaprotein.
2. Of or relating to one of three possible isomers of a benzene ring with two attached chemical groups, in which the carbon atoms with attached groups are separated by one unsubstituted carbon atom: meta-dibromobenzene.

[Greek, from meta, beside, after; see me-² in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
meta-

prefix meaning 1. "after, behind," 2. "changed, altered," 3. "higher, beyond," from Gk. meta (prep.) "in the midst of, among, with, after," from PIE *me- "in the middle" (cf. Goth. miþ, O.E. mið "with, together with, among," see mid). Notion of "changing places with" probably led to senses "change of place, order, or nature," which was the principal meaning of the Gk. word when used as a prefix. Third sense, "higher, beyond," is due to misinterpretation of metaphysics (q.v.) as "transcending physical science."

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

meta- or met-
pref.

Later in time: metestrus.
At a later stage of development: metanephros.
Situated behind: metacarpus.
Change; transformation: metachromatism.
Alternation: metagenesis.
Beyond; transcending; more comprehensive: metapsychology.
At a higher state of development: metazoan.
Having undergone metamorphosis: metamyelocyte.
Derivative or related chemical substance: metaprotein.
Abbr. m- Of or relating to one of three possible isomers of a benzene ring with two attached chemical groups, in which the carbon atoms with attached groups are separated by one unsubstituted carbon atom. Usually used in italic: meta-dibromobenzene.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: meta-
Variant: or met-
Function: prefix
1 : isomeric with or otherwise closely related to <metaldehyde>
2 : involving substitution at or characterized by two positions in the benzene ring that are separated by one carbon atom —abbreviation m- <meta-xylene or m-xylene>; —compare ORTH- 2, PARA- 2

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: meta
Pronunciation: 'met-&
Function: adjective
: relating to, characterized by, or being two positions in the benzene ring that are separated by one carbon atom

Jargon File - Cite This Source - Share This meta /me't*/ or /may't*/ or (Commonwealth) /mee't*/ adj.,pref. [from analytic philosophy] One level of description up. A metasyntactic variable is a variable in notation used to describe syntax, and meta-language is language used to describe language. This is difficult to explain briefly, but much hacker humor turns on deliberate confusion between meta-levels. See hacker humor.

Jargon File 4.2.0

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Meta, MO (city, FIPS 47594) Location: 38.31240 N, 92.16657 W
Population (1990): 249 (123 housing units)
Area: 0.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 65058

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meta-

Met"a-\, Met- \Met-\ [Gr. ? between, with, after; akin to AS. mid with, G. mit, Goth. mi[thorn], E. mid, in midwife.]

1. A prefix meaning between, with, after, behind, over, about, reversely; as, metachronism, the error of placing after the correct time; metaphor, lit., a carrying over; metathesis, a placing reversely.

2. (Chem.) A prefix denoting: (a) Other; duplicate, corresponding to; resembling; hence, metameric; as, meta-arabinic, metaldehyde. (b) (Organic Chem.) That two replacing radicals, in the benzene nucleus, occupy the relative positions of 1 and 3, 2 and 4, 3 and 5, 4 and 6, 5 and 1, or 6 and 2; as, metacresol, etc. See Ortho-, and Para-. (c) (Inorganic Chem.) Having less than the highest number of hydroxyl groups; -- said of acids; as, metaphosphoric acid. Also used adjectively.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meta-

Met`a*nau"pli*us\, n. [NL. See Meta-, and Nauplius.] (Zo["o]l.) A larval crustacean in a stage following the nauplius, and having about seven pairs of appendages.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meta-

Met`a*poph"y*sis\, n.; pl. Metapophyses. [NL. See Meta-, and Apophysis.] (Anat.) A tubercle projecting from the anterior articular processes of some vertebr[ae]; a mammillary process.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meta-

Met`a*tar"sus\, n.; pl. Metatarsi. [NL. See Meta-, and Tarsus.] (Anat.) That part of the skeleton of the hind or lower limb between the tarsus and phalanges; metatarse. It consists, in the human foot, of five bones. See Illustration in Appendix.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meta-

Met`a*tho"rax\, n. [NL.: cf. F. m['e]tathorax. See Meta-, and Thorax.] (Zo["o]l.) The last or posterior segment of the thorax in insects. See Illust. of Coleoptera.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meta-

Mid"wife`\, n.; pl. Midwives. [OE. midwif, fr. AS. mid with (akin to Gr. ?) + ? woman, wife. Properly, the woman or wife who is attendant upon a woman in childbirth. See Meta-, and Wife.] A woman who assists other women in childbirth; a female practitioner of the obstetric art.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

meta-

Or"tho-\ [Gr. ? straight; akin to Skr. ?rdhva upright, vrdh to grow, to cause to grow.]

1. A combining form signifying straight, right, upright, correct, regular; as, orthodromy, orthodiagonal, orthodox, orthographic.

2. (Chem.) A combining form (also used adjectively), designating: (a) (Inorganic Chem.) The one of several acids of the same element (as the phosphoric acids), which actually occurs with the greatest number of hydroxyl groups; as, orthophosphoric acid. Cf. Normal. (b) (Organic Chem.) Connection with, or affinity to, one variety of isomerism, characteristic of the benzene compounds; -- contrasted with meta- or para-; as, the ortho position; hence, designating any substance showing such isomerism; as, an ortho compound.

Note: In the graphic representation of the benzene nucleus (see Benzene nucleus, under Benzene), provisionally adopted, any substance exhibiting double substitution in adjacent and contiguous carbon atoms, as 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 4 & 5, etc., is designated by ortho-; as, orthoxylene; any substance exhibiting substitution of two carbon atoms with one intervening, as 1 & 3, 2 & 4, 3 & 5, 4 & 6, etc., by meta-; as, resorcin or metaxylene; any substance exhibiting substitution in opposite parts, as 1 & 4, 2 & 5, 3 & 6, by para-; as, hydroquinone or paraxylene.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Meta-

Par"a-\ [Gr. ? beside; prob. akin to E. for- in forgive. Cf. For-.]

1. A prefix signifying alongside of, beside, beyond, against, amiss; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox, that which is contrary to opinion; parachronism.

2. (Chem.) A prefix denoting: (a) Likeness, similarity, or connection, or that the substance resembles, but is distinct from, that to the name of which it is prefixed; as paraldehyde, paraconine, etc.; also, an isomeric modification. (b) Specifically: (Organ. Chem.) That two groups or radicals substituted in the benzene nucleus are opposite, or in the respective positions 1 and 4; 2 and 5; or 3 and 6, as paraxylene; paroxybenzoic acid. Cf. Ortho-, and Meta-. Also used adjectively.

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