meta-

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. Later in time: metestrus.
2. At a later stage of development: metanephros.
3. Situated behind: metacarpus.
4. Change; transformation: metachromatism.
5. Alternation: metagenesis.
6. Beyond; transcending; more comprehensive: metalinguistics.
7. At a higher state of development: metazoan.
8. Having undergone metamorphosis: metasomatic.
9. Derivative or related chemical substance: metaprotein.
10. Of or relating to one of three possible isomers of a benzene ring with two attached chemical groups, in which the carbon atoms with attached groups are separated by one unsubstituted carbon atom: meta-dibromobenzene.

Wiktionary

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. pathology Consequent on
5. Behind
6. Later or subsequent
7. geology Analogies and derivatives of metamorphism
8. chemistry Having fewer molecules of water than the ortho- equivalent
9. chemistry in isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in alternate positions; contrasted with ortho- and para-

GNU Webster's 1913

1. A prefix meaning between, with, after, behind, over, about, reversely
2. Other; duplicate, corresponding to; resembling; hence, metameric.
3. (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; See Ortho-, and Para-.
4. (Inorganic Chem.) Having less than the highest number of hydroxyl groups; -- said of acids. Also used adjectively.
5. A prefix meaning at a level above, as in metaphysics, metalanguage.