meta

¹

[ met-uh ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or noting a story, conversation, character, etc., that consciously references or comments upon its own subject or features, often in the form of parody:

   A movie about making a movie is just so meta—especially when the actors criticize the acting.

2. pertaining to or noting an abstract, high-level analysis or commentary, especially one that consciously references something of its own type.

noun

1. a consciously and playfully self-referential story, conversation, etc.:

   That dialogue was an example of meta at its best.

2. an abstract, high-level analysis or commentary:

   writing a meta to explain the character’s motivation.

verb (used without object)

1. to analyze or comment on something in a meta way:

   I spend more time metaing about the show than actually watching it.

meta

²

[ mee-tuh ]

noun

, plural me·tae [mee, -tee].

1. (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.

meta

³

[ met-uh ]

adjective

, Chemistry.

1. pertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 3) in the benzene ring that are separated by one carbon atom.

meta

⁴

[ met-uh ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a shortened form of metamour.

Meta

⁵

[ mee-tuh ]

noun

1. a female given name.

meta-

⁶

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.

2. a prefix added to the name of a subject and designating another subject that analyzes the original one but at a more abstract, higher level:

   metaphilosophy; metalinguistics.

3. a prefix added to the name of something that consciously references or comments upon its own subject or features:

   a meta-painting of an artist painting a canvas.

4. Chemistry.
   1. (of acids, salts, or their organic derivatives) a prefix denoting the least hydrated of a series: Compare ortho-, pyro-.

      meta-antimonic, HSbO3;

      meta-antimonous, HSbO2.

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

meta-

¹

prefix

1. indicating change, alteration, or alternation

   metamorphosis

   metabolism

2. (of an academic discipline, esp philosophy) concerned with the concepts and results of the named discipline See also metatheory

   metamathematics

   meta-ethics

3. occurring or situated behind or after

   metaphase

4. often in italics denoting that an organic compound contains a benzene ring with substituents in the 1,3-positions m- Compare ortho- para- 1

   meta-cresol

   metadinitrobenzene

5. denoting an isomer, polymer, or compound related to a specified compound (often differing from similar compounds that are prefixed by para- )

   metaldehyde

6. denoting an oxyacid that is a lower hydrated form of the anhydride or a salt of such an acid Compare ortho-

   metaphosphoric acid

Meta

²

/ ˈmeɪtə; ˈmeta /

noun

1. a river in Colombia, rising in the Andes and flowing northeast and east, forming part of the border between Colombia and Venezuela, to join the Orinoco River. Length: about 1000 km (620 miles)

Word History and Origins

Origin of meta¹

First recorded in 2010–15; adjective and noun use of meta- ( def )

Origin of meta²

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin mēta “cone, turning post”

Origin of meta³

First recorded in 1875–80; independent use of meta-

Origin of meta⁴

First recorded in 2010–15

Origin of meta⁵

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of meta¹

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

Example Sentences

During a stop by "Hannity" on Friday, Gingrich rationalized Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s meeting with Trump as a sign that the Facebook boss understood the president-elect's special place in the world.

From Salon

Some, including The New York Times's Maggie Haberman, saw the Meta CEO’s Wednesday trip to kiss the ring at Mar-A-Lago as an indication that big tech figures are cozier to Trump than during his first term.

From Salon

“I would not have taken that meta approach unless I had felt that the song demanded it,” she wrote.

From Salon

Yet Alanis is far from dumb, and a case-by-case nitpicking of the lines is as micro as Socrates playing devil’s advocate in response to every little thing his students say, while the song is operating at a macro or meta level more akin to Aristotle’s notion of infinite regress.

From Salon

Instagram owner Meta said it worked with UK banks and investigators to tackle scams and stop criminal activity.

From BBC