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 mastering

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

Examples from the Web for mastering

Contemporary Examples of mastering

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
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
I would say timing and mastering topography were two of them.
Napoleon Was a Dynamite Dictator
J.P. O’Malley
November 7, 2014
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
Rather, he seems intent on mastering one particular but highly important element of it: empathy.
Vimeo Presents: The Top 10 Videos of 2013
December 20, 2013

Historical Examples of mastering

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.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
He set himself the infinite task of mastering the difficult language.
The Long Labrador Trail
Dillon Wallace
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

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 mastering

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 mastering

master

see past master.