meta-

Meaning

1. (morpheme) Behind.
2. (morpheme) Later or subsequent.
3. (morpheme, obsolete) Situated between two segments.
4. (morpheme) Having fewer molecules of water than the ortho- equivalent.
5. (morpheme) in isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in alternate (1,3) positions; contrasted with ortho- and para-.
6. (morpheme) Relating to metabolism.

Synonyms

meta

post-

higher-order-

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mɪˈta/

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek μετα- (meta-), from μετά (metá), from Mycenaean Greek 𐀕𐀲 (me-ta), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *meth₂ (“in the middle”).