meta-, met-, meth- (Greek: after, behind; changed in form, altered; higher [used to designate a higher degree of a branch of science])
- later, behind: metaphase, metathorax
- beyond, transcending, encompassing: metagalaxy, metalanguage
- change, transformation: metaplasia
- higher, more developed: metaxylem
- used in chemical names: metaphosphate
metallophilic
metallophobia
An unnatural distrust of metals or objects made of metal.
metalloscopy
metallotechny
The art of working in metals.
metallotherapy
metallurgic
metallurgy
metamathematics
The branch of mathematics that deals with the logic and consistency of mathematical proofs, formulas, and equations.
metamorphic
metamorphism
metamorphosis
metandrous
Said of a plant in which the female flower is mature before the male.
metanephros
metaphor
1. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another; therefore, making an implicit comparison.
2. One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.
"Hollywood has always been an irresistible, prefabricated metaphor for the crass, the materialistic, the shallow, and the craven."
—Neal Gabler, New York Times Book Review, November 23, 1986. metaphoric
An expression that describes a person or object in a literary way by referring to something that is considered to possess similar characteristics to the person or object which someone is trying to describe.
If there are any numbers below, use them to see other pages in this unit.
Showing page 5 out of 9 pages of 127 words or word groups.
Back to Index |
Search Box | Main Index
The + sign at the end of a unit title means all of the words in that unit have definitions.
Do you want to help to make this dictionary bigger and better?
|
Subscribe to this FREE Focusing on Words Newsletter