Etymology

meta

M3E1T1A1

Today it means: An informal but widely adopted practice in a given field; a de facto standard. Full definition →

Latin mēta
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meta · noun, adjective1

Etymology 1, adjective sense 1 is a back-formation from meta- (prefix). Etymology 1, adjective sense 2 is derived from noun etymology 1, noun sense 1. The noun senses are clippings of various terms beginning with meta (prefix). Folk etymology for noun etymology 1, noun sense 1 also suggests an acronym for most effective/efficient tactic available.

meta · noun2

  1. Latin · derived frommēta
  2. English todaymeta

From Latin mēta.

Meta · proper noun3

The technology conglomerate is named for its connotative evocation of the idea of the metaverse, the research tool after metascience.

Meta · proper noun4

  1. German · borrowed fromMeta
  2. English todayMeta

Named after Meta Schreifer, the sister of a railroad official, from German Meta.

Words from the same roots

Latinmēta all →

mete

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.