meta-, met-, meth-

(Greek: after, behind, beyond; changed in form, altered; higher [used to designate a higher degree of a branch of science])

A variety of applications that include the following:

  • later, behind; as in: metaphase, metathorax
  • beyond, transcending, encompassing; as in: metagalaxy, metalanguage
  • change, transformation; as in: metaplasia
  • higher, more developed; as in: metaxylem
  • used in chemical names; as in: metaphosphate
metabolism
metabolize (verb), metabolizes; metabolized; metabolizing
To change food into a form that can be used by a person's body: Eve was cooking a meal for her family that could be easily metabolized by both of her children and the mother and father.

The bodies of people and animals metabolize nourishment and build up new cells and tissues which provide heat and make it possible to engage in physical activities.

metacarpal
metacarpectomy
metacarpus
metachemistry
Speculative, or theoretical, subatomic chemistry.
metachromy
metachronism (s) (noun), metachronisms (pl)
1. An error in chronology: A condition of metachronism occurred when the secretary placed one of the dates of the upcoming events later than it was supposed to happen.
2. In biology, the co-ordination of the movement of parts: Metachronism takes places especially when cilia moves in a progressive wave.
metachronous (adjective) (not comparable)
1. In medicine, not synchronous; multiple separate occurrences: The doctor told Mrs. Smith that the case of cancer she had had could be metachronous in that it could develop again at a different time.
2. In geology, referring to a formation that occurred at different times: Professor Jones talked about the metachronous shorelines being of a late-glacial period of geological history.
metachrosis
metacognition (s) (noun), metacognitions (pl)
1. An insight and realization of the process of one’s own thoughts; especially, regarded as having a role in directing those procedures: Since June had to learn German vocabulary words for the next day, she was mindful to use the same strategy as always, or metacognition; so, she turned off the music in her room, and went over only a few new words at a time, and wrote them down several times.
2. Knowledge of one's own thoughts and the factors that influence their thinking: Jack's metacognition was based on his family life when he was growing up and he was quite aware of this when making the decision to study rather than to just help out at the gas station.
metacognitive (adjective), more metacognitive, most metacognitive
A reference to or relating to thinking about or considering one's own mental processes: A person's metacognitive considerations involve an assessing or reviewing of a what is current and/or of previous knowledge; such as, determining the relevance of new information, and potentially revising beliefs regarding a subject.

It is important to develop metacognitive skills when learning something in order to concentrate and save time while studying certain subjects for school.

metacyesis
1. A pregnancy resulting from gestation elsewhere than in the uterus: ectopic pregnancy, extrauterine pregnancy, ectopic gestation, extrauterine gestation.
2. A gestation elsewhere than in the uterus.

Often occurring in the fallopian tube; resulting in abdominal pain, fainting, and/or vaginal bleeding.

metagalactic
metagalaxy