What is "meta-"

Meta- \Met"a-\, Met- \Met-\ [Gr. meta` 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:

   1. Other; duplicate, corresponding to; resembling; hence, metameric; as, meta-arabinic, metaldehyde.

   2. (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-.

   3. (Inorganic Chem.) Having less than the highest number of hydroxyl groups; -- said of acids; as, metaphosphoric acid. Also used adjectively.

3. A prefix meaning at a level above, as in metaphysics, metalanguage.

word-forming element meaning

1. "after, behind,"

2. "changed, altered,"

3. "higher, beyond;" from Greek meta (prep.) "in the midst of, in common with, by means of, in pursuit or quest of," from PIE *me- "in the middle" (cognates: German mit, Gothic miþ, Old English mið "with, together with, among;" see mid). Notion of "changing places with" probably led to senses "change of place, order, or nature," which was a principal meaning of the Greek word when used as a prefix (but also denoting "community, participation; in common with; pursuing").\n
   
   \nThird sense, "higher than, transcending, overarching, dealing with the most fundamental matters of," is due to misinterpretation of metaphysics as "science of that which transcends the physical." This has led to a prodigious erroneous extension in modern usage, with meta- affixed to the names of other sciences and disciplines, especially in the academic jargon of literary criticism.

pre. 1 transcending, encompassing 2 Pertaining to a level above or beyond. For example, metadata is data that describes data, metalanguage is language that describes language, etc. 3 Having analogies with metaphysics 4 (context pathology English) consequent on 5 (context anatomy and zoology English) behind 6 (context botany and zoology English) later or subsequent 7 (context geology English) Analogies and derivatives of metamorphism 8 (context chemistry English) Having fewer molecules of water than the ortho- equivalent 9 (context organic chemistry English) in isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in alternate positions; (non-gloss definition: contrasted with ortho- and para-)

In chemistry, meta is a prefix, used for systematic names in IUPAC nomenclature. It has several meanings.

• In organic chemistry, meta indicates the positions of substituents in aromatic cyclic compounds. The substituents have the 1,3-positions, for example in resorcinol.
• Meta may also denote the dehydrated form of an acid, salt or organic derivative in a series.

For example metabisulfite: 2 bisulfite (HSO) → 1 metabisulfite SO + HO and metaphosphoric acid: 3 orthophosphoric acid HPO → 1 trimetaphosphoric acid (HPO) + 3 HO. Meta-antimonic acid, the dehydrated form of antimonic acid (HSbO), is HSbO.