meta
1[ met-uh ]
/ ˈmɛt ə /
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adjective
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.
pertaining to or noting an abstract, high-level analysis or commentary, especially one that consciously references something of its own type.
noun
a consciously and playfully self-referential story, conversation, etc.: That dialogue was an example of meta at its best.
an abstract, high-level analysis or commentary: writing a meta to explain the character’s motivation.
verb (used without object)
to analyze or comment on something in a meta way: I spend more time metaing about the show than actually watching it.
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Origin of meta
1First recorded in 2010–15; adjective and noun use of meta-
Other definitions for meta (2 of 5)
meta2
[ mee-tuh ]
/ ˈmi tə /
noun, plural me·tae [mee-tee]. /ˈmi ti/.
(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.
Origin of meta
2First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin mēta “cone, turning post”
Other definitions for meta (3 of 5)
meta3
[ met-uh ]
/ ˈmɛt ə /
adjective Chemistry.
pertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 3) in the benzene ring that are separated by one carbon atom.
Compare ortho, para3 (def. 1).
Origin of meta
3First recorded in 1875–80; independent use of meta-
Other definitions for meta (4 of 5)
Meta
[ mee-tuh ]
/ ˈmi tə /
noun
a female given name.
Other definitions for meta (5 of 5)
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.
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.
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.
Also especially before a vowel, met- .
Origin of meta-
<Greek, prefix and preposition; cognate with Old English mid ‘with’, German mit,Gothic mith
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for meta (1 of 2)
Meta
/ (ˈmeɪtə, Spanish ˈmeta) /
noun
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)
British Dictionary definitions for meta (2 of 2)
meta-
sometimes before a vowel met-
prefix
indicating change, alteration, or alternationmetabolism; metamorphosis
(of an academic discipline, esp philosophy) concerned with the concepts and results of the named disciplinemetamathematics; meta-ethics See also metatheory
occurring or situated behind or aftermetaphase
(often in italics) denoting that an organic compound contains a benzene ring with substituents in the 1,3-positionsmetadinitrobenzene; meta -cresol Abbreviation: m- Compare ortho- (def. 4), para- 1 (def. 6)
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 acidmetaphosphoric acid Compare ortho- (def. 5)
Word Origin for meta-
Greek, from meta with, after, between, among. Compare Old English mid, mith with, Old Norse meth with, between
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for meta
meta-
pref.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.










