Met`a*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Pref. meta- + genesis.] 1. (Biol.) The change
of form which one animal species undergoes in a series of successively
produced individuals, extending from the one developed from the ovum to
the final perfected individual. Hence, metagenesis involves the
production of sexual individuals by nonsexual means, either directly or
through intervening sexless generations. Opposed to monogenesis. See
Alternate generation, under Generation.
2. (Biol.) Alternation of sexual and asexual or gemmiparous
generations; -- in distinction from heterogamy.
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Met`a*ge*net"ic (mt`*j*nt"k), a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to
metagenesis.
Met`a*gen"ic (-jn"k), a. (Biol.) Metagenetic.
Me*tag"na*thous (?), a. [Pref. meta- + Gr. gna`qos the jaw.] (Zoöl.)
Cross-billed; -- said of certain birds, as the crossbill.
Met`a*gram"ma*tism (?), n. Anagrammatism.
Met`a*graph"ic (?), a. By or pertaining to metagraphy.
Me*tag"ra*phy (?), n. [Pref. meta- + -graphy.] The art or act of
rendering the letters of the alphabet of one language into the possible
equivalents of another; transliteration. Stormonth.
Met"al (? or ?; 277), n. [F. métal, L. metallum metal, mine, Gr. &?;
mine; cf. Gr. &?; to search after. Cf. Mettle, Medal.] 1. (Chem.) An
elementary substance, as sodium, calcium, or copper, whose oxide or
hydroxide has basic rather than acid properties, as contrasted with the
nonmetals, or metalloids. No sharp line can be drawn between the metals
and nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid and basic
qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc.
Popularly, the name is applied to certain hard, fusible metals, as
gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc, nickel, etc., and also to
the mixed metals, or metallic alloys, as brass, bronze, steel, bell
metal, etc.