master

[mas-ter, mah-ster]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR master ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

an owner of a slave, animal, etc.

an employer of workers or servants.

the male head of a household.

a person eminently skilled in something, as an occupation, art, or science: the great masters of the Impressionist period.

a person whose teachings others accept or follow: a Zen master.

Chiefly British. a male teacher or schoolmaster.

a worker qualified to teach apprentices and to carry on a trade independently.

a title given to a bridge or chess player who has won or placed in a certain number of officially recognized tournaments.

a person holding this title.

Also called master mariner. a person who commands a merchant ship; captain.

a victor or conqueror.

a presiding officer.

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.

the Master, Jesus Christ.

a person who has been awarded a master's degree.

a boy or young man (used chiefly as a term of address).

Also called matrix. an original document, drawing, manuscript, etc., from which copies are made.

a device for controlling another device operating in a similar way.Compare slave(def 5).

Recording.

matrix(def 14).
a tape or disk from which duplicates may be made.

Also called copy negative. Photography. a film, usually a negative, used primarily for making large quantities of prints.

master of foxhounds.

Archaic. a work of art produced by a master.

adjective

being master; exercising mastery; dominant.

chief or principal: a master list.

directing or controlling: a master switch.

of or relating to a master from which copies are made: master film; master matrix; master record; master tape.

dominating or predominant: a master play.

being a master of some occupation, art, etc.; eminently skilled: a master diplomat; a master pianist.

being a master carrying on one's trade independently, rather than a worker employed by another: a master plumber.

characteristic of a master; showing mastery.

verb (used with object)

to make oneself master of; become an adept in: to master a language.

to conquer or overcome: to master one's pride.

to rule or direct as master: to master a crew.

Recording. to produce a master tape, disk, or record of: The producer recorded, mixed, and mastered the new album.

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 for master

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR master ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for mastered

grasp, understand, comprehend, swamp, cram, study, acquire, grind

Examples from the Web for mastered

Contemporary Examples of mastered

In movies, that language, visual and verbal, has yet to be mastered.
Why Can’t Movies Capture Genius?
Clive Irving
December 14, 2014
He knew this was a way to reach people, and he mastered the technique.
What Lincoln Could Teach Fox News
Scott Porch
November 6, 2014
So, the whole song was written, mixed, recorded, and mastered in 90 minutes.
The Making of Kiesza: From Navy Sharpshooter to Beauty Queen to Pop Diva
Marlow Stern
October 20, 2014
With the eyes of the world upon him, he met the moment and mastered it.
Martin Luther King’s Nobel Speech Is an Often Ignored Masterpiece
Malcolm Jones
October 16, 2014
After eleven years directing different themes of “Nightmare,” Harlacher has mastered the art of shock and panic.
New York’s Scariest Night Out: The Ghosts, Rats, and Lunatics of ‘Nightmare New York’
Justin Jones
October 4, 2014

Historical Examples of mastered

The young man stared at his mother until he had mastered her meaning.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
He mastered it, and galloped with a heavy heart up the ravine and to the house of Pop.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
The devil saw his chance, sprang up, and mastered the father.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
At last, however, he mastered his irritation to some degree, and spoke his command briefly.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
The sun had mastered the clouds and all the surface of the water glittered.
Roden's Corner
Henry Seton Merriman

British Dictionary definitions for mastered

master

noun

the man in authority, such as the head of a household, the employer of servants, or the owner of slaves or animalsRelated adjective: magistral

a person with exceptional skill at a certain thinga master of the violin
(as modifier)a master thief

(often capital) a great artist, esp an anonymous but influential artist

a person who has complete control of a situation
an abstract thing regarded as having power or influencethey regarded fate as the master of their lives

a workman or craftsman fully qualified to practise his trade and to train others in it
(as modifier)master carpenter

an original copy, stencil, tape, etc, from which duplicates are made
(as modifier)master copy

a player of a game, esp chess or bridge, who has won a specified number of tournament games

the principal of some colleges

a highly regarded teacher or leader whose religion or philosophy is accepted by followers

a graduate holding a master's degree

the chief executive officer aboard a merchant ship

a person presiding over a function, organization, or institution

mainly British a male teacher

an officer of the Supreme Court of Judicature subordinate to a judge

the superior person or side in a contest

a machine or device that operates to control a similar one

(often capital) the heir apparent of a Scottish viscount or baron

(modifier) overall or controllingmaster plan

(modifier) designating a device or mechanism that controls othersmaster switch

(modifier) main; principalmaster bedroom

the master Southern African informal the man of the house

verb (tr)

to become thoroughly proficient into master the art of driving

to overcome; defeatto master your emotions

to rule or control as master

Derived Formsmasterdom, nounmasterhood, nounmasterless, adjectivemastership, noun

Word Origin for master

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

Master

noun

a title of address placed before the first name or surname of a boy

a respectful term of address, esp as used by disciples when addressing or referring to a religious teacher

an archaic equivalent of Mr

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 mastered

master

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.

master

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.

Idioms and Phrases with mastered

master

see past master.