meta-data is data about data, or data that augments data. For example, if one considers the text of a novel to be data, then the meta-data would include things such as
author
title
publication date
publication location
publisher
edition number
edition format (hardcover/audiobook/softcover/ebook/etc...)
media format (for paper distribution, kind of paper and edges; for electronic distribution, downloaded versus purchased on CD/floppy/cartridge/etc...)
and probably many more.
Some of what we record at the Science Fiction Genre Evolution Project is meta-data.
