1. Beyond, after, or higher: This is the most common meaning. It suggests something that transcends or goes beyond the usual or literal level.
* Metaphysics: The branch of philosophy that examines fundamental questions about reality, existence, and knowledge.
* Metacognition: Thinking about thinking, or awareness of one's own cognitive processes.
* Metadata: Data about data, such as file size, author, or creation date.
2. Change: In some cases, "meta-" can indicate a transformation or change.
* Metamorphosis: A significant change in form or structure, especially in an insect.
3. Self-referential: Sometimes "meta-" implies something that refers to itself.
* Metalanguage: A language used to describe or analyze another language.
* Metatheory: A theory about a theory.
It's important to consider the context of the word to determine the specific meaning of "meta-."