master

[ mas-ter, mah-ster ]

/ ˈmæs tər, ˈmɑ stər /

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See synonyms for: master / mastered / mastering / masters 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 enslaved people, in the institution of chattel slavery; a slaveholder: Antebellum laws and codes in the South restricted the circumstances under which masters could free African Americans from slavery.

an owner of a pet or other animal: The dog waited at the end of the lane every evening to greet his master coming home.

Older Use. the male head of a household: As the oldest son, he felt a lot of pressure to act as the master of the house after his father’s passing.

Older Use. an employer of workers or servants: The valet unpacked his master’s luggage prior to his arrival.

(sometimes initial capital letter) the dominant sexual partner in a BDSM relationship of unequal power.

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 mas·ter mar·i·ner

[mas-ter mar-uh-ner, mah-ster] /ˈmæs tər ˈmær ə nər, ˈmɑ stər/ . 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.

Machinery, Computers. a device or process that controls another device or process 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 cop·y neg·a·tive

[kop-ee neg-uh-tiv] /ˈkɒp i ˈnɛg ə tɪv/ .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 expert skill, ability, or knowledge: The chosen design was a master achievement that still amazes architects, engineers, and scientists today.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR master

1 adept, expert.

28 main, leading, primary, prime, cardinal.

33 adept, expert, skillful.

35 subdue, control.

36 govern, manage.

See synonyms for master on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of master

First recorded before 900; Middle English maistre, maister, Old English magister, from Latin; akin to magnus “great”

OTHER WORDS FROM master

mas·ter·less, adjectiveout·mas·ter, verb (used with object)sub·mas·ter, nounun·der·mas·ter, noun

un·mas·tered, adjectivewell-mas·tered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use master in a sentence

All colugos are master gliders, considered among the best of the 60-odd species of mammals that can glide.
On a cool night in Malaysia, scientists track mysterious colugos across the treetops|Yao-Hua Law|November 20, 2020|Science News
SpaceX astronauts arrive at the International Space Station, Taylor Swift’s masters have a new owner, and a new study makes the case for flexible work arrangements.
Zurich added 6 words to job listings and saw women’s share of applications—and hires—jump|Claire Zillman, reporter|November 17, 2020|Fortune
She graduated from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and received her master’s in Space Systems Operations Management from Webster University.
Come hear about the opportunities in space observation at TC Sessions: Space|Jonathan Shieber|November 12, 2020|TechCrunch
He received a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a master’s from Clarkson University.
Washington Football Team hires a new head of human resources|Nicki Jhabvala|November 9, 2020|Washington Post

I’m a mom of two young kids, navigating a pandemic, distance learning, working and finishing my master’s degree.
The pandemic is taking a toll on parents, and it’s showing in alcohol consumption rates|Sarah Hosseini|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
But truth be told, I never came close to mastering the language despite my excellent grades.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Macallan represents a lifestyle; the kind that represents a person set on mastering their craft.
The Restaurant, Flask, And Photography Worthy of The Macallan Whisky||December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I would say timing and mastering topography were two of them.
Napoleon Was a Dynamite Dictator|J.P. O’Malley|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“They do have to worry about the injuries that you can trigger if you go heavy without mastering movements,” she admits.
Inside the Cult of CrossFit|William O’Connor|May 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The positives of meditation are many, but mastering the practice can be a challenge.
High-Tech Meditation: Swap Your Yogi for a Headset|Gregory Ferenstein|April 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A feeling of lassitude possesses me, my feet drag heavily, and I experience great difficulty in mastering my sleepiness.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
And he spurred away headlong, his bruise nowhere, one horrible thought mastering all.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
“I will not—” he began; but mastering his indignant anger he let fall his arm.
The Dark House|Georg Manville Fenn
No man can be a good captain of a battleship, for instance, until he has spent many years mastering the necessary knowledge.
Invention|Bradley A. Fiske
Sega's huge muscles were quite equal to the task of mastering a dozen of the best fighting men of Earth.
The Revolt of the Star Men|Raymond Gallun

British Dictionary definitions for master (1 of 2)

master

/ (ˈmɑːstə) /

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 forms of master

masterdom, nounmasterhood, nounmasterless, adjectivemastership, noun

Word Origin for master

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

British Dictionary definitions for master (2 of 2)

Master

/ (ˈmɑːstə) /

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with master

master

see past master.

master

OTHER WORDS FOR master

Origin of master

OTHER WORDS FROM master

Words related to master

How to use master in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for master (1 of 2)

Derived forms of master

Word Origin for master

British Dictionary definitions for master (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with master