meta 1
/mee"teuh/ , n. , pl. metae /-tee/ .
(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.
[ 1570-80; meta cone, turning post ]
meta 2
/met"euh/ , 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 .
[ 1875-80; independent use of META- ]