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me•ta

Pronunciation: (mē'tu), [key]
—n.,
—pl. -taePronunciation: (-tē). [key]
(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.

met•a

Pronunciation: (met'u), [key]
—adj. Chem.
pertaining to or occupying two positions (1, 3) in the benzene ring that are separated by one carbon atom. Cf. ortho, para ³.See diag. under ortho.

Me•ta

Pronunciation: (mē'tu), [key]
—n.
a female given name.

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.
2. Chem.
a. (of acids, salts, or their organic derivatives) a prefix denoting the least hydrated of a series: meta-antimonic, HSbO₃; meta-antimonous, HSbO₂. Cf. ortho-, pyro-.
b. a prefix designating the meta position in the benzene ring. Abbr.: m-. Cf. ortho-, para- ¹. Also, esp. before a vowel,met-.

met

metabiosis