meta
/ˈmɛtə/
noun
- A prefix or concept meaning 'beyond,' 'after,' or 'self-referential,' used in various fields.
- In philosophy, 'meta' often refers to ideas that examine the foundations of a subject.
- The word 'metaphysics' comes from the Greek 'meta,' meaning beyond physics.
- Gamers sometimes use 'meta' to describe the most effective strategies in a game.
adjective
- Referring to something that is self-referential or about itself, especially in art, culture, or conversation.
- Some people find meta humor confusing because it breaks the fourth wall.
- Her comment about the argument was so meta that it made everyone laugh.
- The movie was very meta, with characters discussing the plot as if they knew they were in a film.
- Describing something that is beyond or above a particular subject, often used in compound words like 'metadata' or 'metacognition'.
- The study of meta-ethics looks at the nature of moral concepts themselves.
- Metacognition means thinking about your own thinking processes.
- Metadata is data that describes other data, like the date a photo was taken.