ExpertGlossary terms starting with M

2,540 terms

Meta data Data about data; resides in the shadows of a document and usually includes information such as, author, recipient, creation date, modified date, etc.
Meta Description The meta description tag is typically a sentence or two of content which describes the content of the page.
Meta Keywords The meta keywords tag is a tag which can be used to highlight keywords and keyword phrases which the page is targeting.
meta name A meta key word that is incorporated in the head of an HTML document, and that includes the document's name and facilitates indexing for search engines.
Meta Refresh A meta tag used to make a browser refresh to another URL location. A meta refresh looks like this <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="10;url=http://www.
Meta Search A search of searches. A query is submitted to more than one search engine or directory, and results are reported from all the engines, possibly after…
Meta Search Engine A server which passes queries on to many search engines and/or directories and then summarises all the results.
Meta tag A construct placed in the HTML header of a web page, providing information which is not visible to browsers.
Meta tag stuffing Repeating keywords in the meta tags and using meta keywords that are unrelated to the site's content.
Meta Tags People generally refer to meta descriptions and meta keywords as meta tags. Some people also group the page title in with these.
meta-signaling VCs (vacant codes) The standardized vacant codes that convey meta-signaling information across a user-network interface (UNI). [T1.627-1993]
Metabase A store that contains metadata such as that used by Internet Information Server IIS to obtain its configuration data.
Metabase update service A component in Exchange 2000 that reads data from Active Directory and transposes it into the local IIS metabase.
metabolic (MEH-tuh-BAH-lik) Having to do with metabolism (the total of all chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism to produce energy and basic…
metabolic acidosis (MEH-tuh-BAH-lik A-sih-DOH-sis) A condition in which the blood is too acidic. It may be caused by severe illness or sepsis (bacteria in the bloodstream).
metabolic cell A cell that is not dividing. See: metabolism
Metabolic Control See Diabetes Education
Metabolic Disorder (MEH-tuh-BAH-lik dis-OR-der) A condition in which normal metabolic processes are disrupted, usually because of a missing enzyme.
metabolic therapy (MEH-tuh-BAH-lik THAYR-uh-pee) Treatment to correct changes in metabolism that can be caused by disease.
metabolic type (MEH-tuh-BAH-lik tipe) In alternative medicine, a theory that people fall into one of three groups (protein, carbohydrate, or mixed type) based on the…
metabolism (meh-TA-boh-lih-zum) The total of all chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism.
metabolite (meh-TA-boh-lite) A substance made or used when the body breaks down food, drugs or chemicals, or its own tissue (for example, fat or muscle tissue).
metabolomics The large-scale study of the full complement of secondary metabolites produced by a given species in all its tissues and growth stages.
metacentric chromosome A chromosome in which the centromere is located in the middle and, consequently, the chromosome arms are of about equal length.
metacharacter A "character" that is not supposed to be treated normally. Which characters are to be treated specially as metacharacters varies greatly from context to…
Metachromatic leukodystrophy A heritable metabolic disorder, usually of infancy, characterized by myelin loss and other abnormalities of the white matter of the nervous system…
metadata Metadata is information about a particular data set which may describe, for example, how, when, and by whom it was received, created, accessed, and/or…
Metadata Comparison A method of de-duplication that compares file metadata and ignores content. See De-Duplication.
metadata system (MDS) The components of the ARM data system that collect and report data stream metadata. Formerly known as the Site Ops Log.
metal affinity chromatography A chromatographic technique, in which a compound interacting with a specific metal ion can be captured by immobilizing the relevant ion on the column's…
Metal Halide Lamp A high-intensity discharge lamp type that uses mercury and several halide additives as light-producing elements.
Metal Level A metal level, also known as a benefit level, is a group of plans that have similar value. Plan levels include bronze, silver, gold and platinum.
Metalimnion Middle layer of a thermally stratified lake or reservoir with a rapid temperature decrease with depth. See stratification and thermocline.
metallic (meh-TA-lik) Having to do with metal. Some cancer treatments may change the sense of taste and cause foods to have a metallic taste.
metallic circuit A circuit in which metallic conductors are used and in which the ground or earth forms no part.
metallic member A noncommunications metallic cable component such as a shield, vapor barrier, or strength member. [T1.316-1997]
metallic test access unit (MTAU) The functions associated with accessing a metallic facility for the purpose of testing.
metallic voltage A potential difference between metallic conductors, as opposed to a potential difference between a metallic conductor and ground.
metalloenzyme An enzyme which requires the presence of a metal in order to be catalytically active.
Metallothionein A protective protein that binds heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead.
Metamorphic Rock compressed or changed by pressure, heat, or water. A rock formed from a preexisting rock that is altered ("baked") by high temperatures and…
Metamorphic rock A sedimentary or igneous rock that has been changed by pressure, heat, or chemical action.
Metaphase Stage of mitosis or meiosis (following prophase and preceding anaphase ) during which the chromosome s, or at least the kinetochores, lie in the central…
Metaplasia A change of cells to a form that does not normally occur in the tissue in which it is found.
metaplastic carcinoma A general term used to describe cancer that begins in cells that have changed into another cell type (for example, a squamous cell of the esophagus…
METAR An international code (Aviation Routine Weather Report) used for reporting, recording and transmitting weather observations.
metascheduler A program that typically operates at a higher level than a job scheduler (typically, above the GRAM level). It schedules and submits jobs to GRAM services.
Metastable Energy Density A theorized transient energy, often preceding a phase transition.
metastasectomy (meh-TAS-tuh-SEK-toh-mee) Surgery to remove one or more metastases (tumors formed from cells that have spread from the primary tumor).
metastases When cancer spreads to another location in the body. For example, if breast cancer cells spread to the bone, this is called a "breast cancer metastasis."
metastasis (meh-TAS-tuh-sis) The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. A tumor formed by cells that have spread is called a "metastatic tumor" or a…
metastasize (meh-TAS-tuh-size) To spread from one part of the body to another. When cancer cells metastasize and form secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic…
Metastatic (meh-tuh-STA-tik) Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.
metastatic cancer (meh-tuh-STA-tik KAN-ser) Cancer that has spread from the place in which it started to other parts of the body.
metasymbol Something we'd call a "metacharacter" except that it's a sequence of more than one character.
metasynchronous Occurring at nearly the same time.
Metate A portable stone slab upon which seeds and other grains are milled with a mano using a push-pull, back-and-forth motion. See also Mano
Meteogram A graphical depiction of trends in meteorological variables such as temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, pressure, etc.
meteor burst communications Communications by the propagation of radio signals reflected by ionized meteor trails. [NTIA]
Meteoric Water Water derived from precipitation.
meteorism Swelling of the abdomen caused by gas in the intestines or peritoneal cavity. Also called tympanites.
meteorological aids service A radiocommunication service used for meteorological, including hydrological, observations and exploration. [NTIA] [RR]
Meteorological element Meteorological element Any one of the properties or conditions of the atmosphere which together specify the weather at a given place for any particular…
meteorological-satellite service An Earth exploration-satellite service for meteorological purposes. [NTIA] [RR]
Meteorologist A person who studies meteorology. There are many different paths within the field of meteorology.
Meteorology The science dealing with the atmosphere and its phenomena. A distinction can be drawn between meteorology and climatology, the latter being primarily…
metes and bounds The legal description of the exact property which is covered by a patent (the Claims).
Methadone (MEH-thuh-DONE) A morphine-like drug used to treat severe pain and to prevent withdrawal symptoms in patients who are addicted to heroin or other opiates.
Methane A colorless, odorless, tasteless gas composed of one molecule of Carbon and four of hydrogen, which is highly flammable.
Methane (CH4) A hydrocarbon that is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential most recently estimated at 23 times that of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Methane (CH4) A hydrocarbon that is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential most recently estimated at 21.
Methanogen A methane-producing organism.
Methanol Methyl alcohol having the chemical formula CH30H. Methanol is usually produced by chemical conversion at high temperatures and pressures. Wood alcohol.
Methanol (CH33OH) A colorless poisonous liquid with essentially no odor and little taste. It is the simplest alcohol with a boiling point of 64.7 degrees Celsius.
Methanol (CH3OH; Methyl alcohol or wood alcohol) A clear, colorless, very mobile liquid that is flammable and poisonous; used as a fuel and fuel additive, and to produce chemicals.
methanol (wood alcohol) (CH3OH) An alcohol formed by catalytically combining carbon monoxide with hydrogen in a 1:2 ratio under high temperature and pressure.
Methanotrophic Having the biological capacity to oxidize methane to CO2 and water by metabolism under aerobic conditions. See aerobic.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) MRSA causes a staph infection (pronounced "staff infection") that is resistant to several common antibiotics. There are two types of infection.
method the course of action or technique followed in conducting a specific analysis or comparison leading to an analytical result.
method body The body of a method: everything inside the outermost block of a method.
method header The header of a method, consisting of the method name, its result type, formal arguments and any exceptions thrown. Also known as a method signature.
method overloading Two or more methods with the same name defined within a class are said to be overloaded. This applies to both constructors and other methods.
method overriding A method defined in a super class may be overridden by a method of the same name defined in a sub class.
method permission An authorization rule that determines who is permitted to execute one or more enterprise bean methods.
method result The value returned from a method via a return statement. The type of the expression in the return statement must match the return type declared in the…
method signature A synonym for method header.
method variable See local variable.
method-binding expression A JavaServer Faces EL expression that refers to a method of a backing bean. This method performs either event handling, validation, or navigation…
methodology (MEH-thuh-DAH-loh-jee) In medicine, the rules and procedures for doing research and evaluating results.
Methods Engineering The technique that subjects each operation of a given piece of work to close analysis to eliminate every unnecessary element or operation and to approach…
methotrexate (meh-thuh-TREK-sayt) A drug used to treat some types of cancer, severe skin conditions such as psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
methoxsalen (meh-THOX-uh-len) A drug used together with UV light to treat psoriasis, vitiligo, and skin nodules of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
methoxypolyethylene glycol epoetin beta (meh-THOK-see-PAH-lee-EH-thih-leen GLY-kol ee-POH-eh-tin...) A substance being studied in the treatment of anemia in patients who are receiving…
Methyl bromide (CH3Br) An effective pesticide; used to fumigate soil and many agricultural products. Because it contains bromine, it depletes stratospheric ozone when released…
Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) An ether manufactured by reacting methanol and isobutylene. MTBE has high octane and low volatility. Used as a fuel oxygenate.
methyl-5-aminolevulinate A drug used in photodynamic therapy; it is absorbed by tumor cells and, when exposed to light, becomes active and kills the cancer cells.
methylation The addition of a methyl group (-CH3) to a molecule, most commonly in the context of DNA where cytosine and, less often, adenine residues can be modified…
methylnaltrexone (MEH-thul-nal-TREK-sone) The active ingredient in a drug used to relieve certain side effects caused by treatment with opiods (pain killers similar to…
methylnaltrexone bromide (MEH-thul-nal-TREK-sone BROH-mide) A drug used to relieve certain side effects caused by treatment with opiods (pain killers similar to morphine), such as…
methylphenidate A drug that is a central nervous system stimulant.