Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

master

[mas-ter, mah-ster]
See more synonyms for master on Thesaurus.com
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.
Show More
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.
Show More
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.
Show More

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

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for mastering

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Did she hate him for his mastering of circumstances but not herself?

    The Leopard Woman

    Stewart Edward White

  • For nearly ten years the disease kept on mastering me more and more.

  • He set himself the infinite task of mastering the difficult language.

  • How tremendous is the quick succession of mastering passions!

    Vivian Grey

    Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli

  • Mastering his emotion, de Loubersac decided to make a clean breast of it.

    A Nest of Spies

    Pierre Souvestre

British Dictionary definitions for mastering

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
Show More
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
Show More
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
Show More
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 mastering

master

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.

Show More

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.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with mastering

master

see past master.

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