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master

[mas-ter, mah-ster]
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noun
  1. a person with the ability or power to use, control, or dispose of something: a master of six languages; to be master of one's fate.
  2. an owner of a slave, animal, etc.
  3. an employer of workers or servants.
  4. the male head of a household.
  5. a person eminently skilled in something, as an occupation, art, or science: the great masters of the Impressionist period.
  6. a person whose teachings others accept or follow: a Zen master.
  7. Chiefly British. a male teacher or schoolmaster.
  8. a worker qualified to teach apprentices and to carry on a trade independently.
  9. a title given to a bridge or chess player who has won or placed in a certain number of officially recognized tournaments.
  10. a person holding this title.
  11. Also called master mariner. a person who commands a merchant ship; captain.
  12. a victor or conqueror.
  13. a presiding officer.
  14. an officer of the court to whom some or all of the issues in a case may be referred for the purpose of taking testimony and making a report to the court.
  15. the Master, Jesus Christ.
  16. a person who has been awarded a master's degree.
  17. a boy or young man (used chiefly as a term of address).
  18. Also called matrix. an original document, drawing, manuscript, etc., from which copies are made.
  19. a device for controlling another device operating in a similar way.Compare slave(def 5).
  20. Recording.
    1. matrix(def 14).
    2. a tape or disk from which duplicates may be made.
  21. Also called copy negative. Photography. a film, usually a negative, used primarily for making large quantities of prints.
  22. master of foxhounds.
  23. Archaic. a work of art produced by a master.
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adjective
  1. being master; exercising mastery; dominant.
  2. chief or principal: a master list.
  3. directing or controlling: a master switch.
  4. of or relating to a master from which copies are made: master film; master matrix; master record; master tape.
  5. dominating or predominant: a master play.
  6. being a master of some occupation, art, etc.; eminently skilled: a master diplomat; a master pianist.
  7. being a master carrying on one's trade independently, rather than a worker employed by another: a master plumber.
  8. characteristic of a master; showing mastery.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to make oneself master of; become an adept in: to master a language.
  2. to conquer or overcome: to master one's pride.
  3. to rule or direct as master: to master a crew.
  4. Recording. to produce a master tape, disk, or record of: The producer recorded, mixed, and mastered the new album.
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Origin of master

before 900; Middle English maistre, maister, Old English magister < Latin; akin to magnus great
Related formsmas·ter·less, adjectiveout·mas·ter, verb (used with object)sub·mas·ter, nounun·der·mas·ter, nounun·mas·tered, adjectivewell-mas·tered, adjective

Synonyms

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1. adept, expert. 26. main, leading, primary, prime, cardinal. 31. adept, expert, skillful. 33. subdue, control. 34. govern, manage.

master's degree

noun
  1. a degree awarded by a graduate school or department, usually to a person who has completed at least one year of graduate study.
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Also called mas·ter's.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

skillfuladeptskilledexperiencedleadingadministratorgururulerbossdirectorjudgemanagercommanderownerinstructorteacherconnoisseurdoctorauthoritygenius

Examples from the Web for master

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • At length the servant returned, saying his master was now ready to see them.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • His long habit of thought concerning her enabled him to master this foolishness.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • If it please you, lady, my master bids me say he desires your presence.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • If a servant complained of being abused, his master had no power to retain him.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • But he was a man and his own master—if you can rightly call a man his own master that does them things.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for master

master

noun
  1. the man in authority, such as the head of a household, the employer of servants, or the owner of slaves or animalsRelated adjective: magistral
    1. a person with exceptional skill at a certain thinga master of the violin
    2. (as modifier)a master thief
  3. (often capital) a great artist, esp an anonymous but influential artist
    1. a person who has complete control of a situation
    2. an abstract thing regarded as having power or influencethey regarded fate as the master of their lives
    1. a workman or craftsman fully qualified to practise his trade and to train others in it
    2. (as modifier)master carpenter
    1. an original copy, stencil, tape, etc, from which duplicates are made
    2. (as modifier)master copy
  7. a player of a game, esp chess or bridge, who has won a specified number of tournament games
  8. the principal of some colleges
  9. a highly regarded teacher or leader whose religion or philosophy is accepted by followers
  10. a graduate holding a master's degree
  11. the chief executive officer aboard a merchant ship
  12. a person presiding over a function, organization, or institution
  13. mainly British a male teacher
  14. an officer of the Supreme Court of Judicature subordinate to a judge
  15. the superior person or side in a contest
  16. a machine or device that operates to control a similar one
  17. (often capital) the heir apparent of a Scottish viscount or baron
  18. (modifier) overall or controllingmaster plan
  19. (modifier) designating a device or mechanism that controls othersmaster switch
  20. (modifier) main; principalmaster bedroom
  21. the master Southern African informal the man of the house
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verb (tr)
  1. to become thoroughly proficient into master the art of driving
  2. to overcome; defeatto master your emotions
  3. to rule or control as master
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Derived Formsmasterdom, nounmasterhood, nounmasterless, adjectivemastership, noun

Word Origin

Old English magister teacher, from Latin; related to Latin magis more, to a greater extent

Master

noun
  1. a title of address placed before the first name or surname of a boy
  2. a respectful term of address, esp as used by disciples when addressing or referring to a religious teacher
  3. an archaic equivalent of Mr
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for master

n.

late Old English mægester "one having control or authority," from Latin magister (n.) "chief, head, director, teacher" (source of Old French maistre, French maître, Spanish and Italian maestro, Portuguese mestre, Dutch meester, German Meister), contrastive adjective ("he who is greater") from magis (adv.) "more," from PIE *mag-yos-, comparative of root *meg- "great" (see mickle). Form influenced in Middle English by Old French cognate maistre. Meaning "original of a recording" is from 1904. In academic senses (from Medieval Latin magister) it is attested from late 14c., originally a degree conveying authority to teach in the universities. As an adjective from late 12c.

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v.

early 13c., "to get the better of," from master (n.) and also from Old French maistrier, from Medieval Latin magistrare. Meaning "to reduce to subjugation" is early 15c.; that of "to acquire complete knowledge" is from 1740s. Related: Mastered; mastering.

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master's degree

n.

late 14c., originally a degree giving one authority to teach in a university; from master (n.) in its general sense of "man of learning" (early 13c.), "a teacher" (c.1200).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with master

master

see past master.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.