Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense masters, present participle mastering, past tense, past participle mastered
1. countable noun
A servant's master is the man that he or she works for.
My master ordered me not to deliver the message except in private.
Synonyms: lord, ruler, commander, chief More Synonyms of master
2. countable noun [usually poss NOUN]
A dog's master is the man or boy who owns it.
The dog yelped excitedly when his master opened a desk drawer and produced his leash.
Synonyms: owner, keeper More Synonyms of master
3. countable noun
If you say that someone is a master of a particular activity, you mean that they are extremely skilled at it.
She was a master of the English language.
He is a master at blocking progress.
They appear masters in the art of making regulations work their way.
Synonyms: expert, maestro, pro [informal], ace [informal] More Synonyms of master
Master is also an adjective.
...a master craftsman.
...a master criminal.
4.
See also past master
5. variable noun
If you are master of a situation, you have complete control over it.
Jackson remained calm and always master of his passions. [+ of]
He was under no illusions as to who was master in his house.
6. verb
If you master something, you learn how to do it properly or you succeed in understanding it completely.
Duff soon mastered the skills of radio production. [VERB noun]
Students are expected to master a second language. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: learn, understand, pick up, acquire More Synonyms of master
7. verb
If you master a difficult situation, you succeed in controlling it.
When you have mastered one situation you have to go on to the next. [VERB noun]
His genius alone has mastered every crisis. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: control, manage, direct, dominate More Synonyms of master
8. countable noun [usually noun NOUN]
A master is a male teacher.
[British, old-fashioned]
Mr Palmer was a retired maths master.
9. See also headmaster, housemaster
10. countable noun
A famous male painter of the past is often called a master.
...a portrait by the Dutch master, Vincent Van Gogh.
11. See also old master
12. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A master copy of something such as a film or a tape recording is an original copy that can be used to produce other copies.
Keep one as a master copy for your own reference and circulate the others.
Synonyms: original, primary, archetypal, prototypical More Synonyms of master
13. countable noun [usually with poss]
The master of a ship that carries passengers or goods is its captain.
...the Royal Pacific's master.
Synonyms: captain, commander, skipper More Synonyms of master
14. singular noun
A master's degree can be referred to as a master's.
I've a master's in economics. [+ in]
15. countable noun [oft theN; N-VOC]
Master is sometimes used by the followers of a male religious teacher or leader as a wayof referring to him or addressing him.
She believed that she had been selected by the Master to reveal forgotten wisdom.
16. title noun
In the past, Master was used before a boy's name as a polite way of referring to him or addressing him. Nowadays, Master can be written before a boy's name when addressing a letter to him.
[old-fashioned]
Nice to see you, Master Simon.
17.
See be one's own master
More Synonyms of master
master in British English
(ˈmɑːstə)
noun
1.
the man in authority, such as the head of a household, the employer of servants, or the owner of slaves or animals
▶ Related adjective: magistral
2.
a.
a person with exceptional skill at a certain thing
a master of the violin
b.
(as modifier)
a master thief
3. (often capital)
a great artist, esp an anonymous but influential artist
4.
a.
a person who has complete control of a situation
b.
an abstract thing regarded as having power or influence
they regarded fate as the master of their lives
5.
a.
a workman or craftsman fully qualified to practise a trade and to train others in it
b.
(as modifier)
master carpenter
6.
a.
an original copy, stencil, tape, etc, from which duplicates are made
b.
(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 controlling
master plan
19. (modifier)
designating a device or mechanism that controls others
master switch
20. (modifier)
main; principal
master bedroom
21. the master
verb(transitive)
22.
to become thoroughly proficient in
to master the art of driving
23.
to overcome; defeat
to master your emotions
24.
to rule or control as master
Derived forms
masterdom (ˈmasterdom)
noun
masterhood (ˈmasterˌhood)
noun
masterless (ˈmasterless)
adjective
mastership (ˈmastership)
noun
Word origin
Old English magister teacher, from Latin; related to Latin magis more, to a greater extent
Master in British English
(ˈmɑːstə)
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
master in American English
(ˈmæstər; ˈmɑstər)
noun
1.
a man who rules others or has control, authority, or power over something
; specif.,
a.
a man who is head of a household or institution
b.
an employer
c.
one who owns a slave or an animal
d.
the captain of a merchant ship
e.
the one that excels in a contest, skill, etc.; victor or superior
f. Chiefly British
a male schoolteacher or tutor
g.
a person whose teachings in religion, philosophy, etc. one follows or professes to follow
h. [M-]; Epithet
Jesus Christ
, with our, the, etc.
2.
something regarded as having control, power, etc.
3.
a person very skilled and able in some work, profession, science, etc.; expert
; specif.,
a.
a highly skilled workman or craftsman qualified to follow his or her trade independentlyand, usually, to supervise the work of others
b.
an artist regarded as great
c. Games and Sport
a person recognized as having achieved the highest degree of skill
chess master, golf master
4. [M-]
a title variously applied to
a. Archaic
any man or youth
now superseded by the variant Mister, usually written Mr. when placed before the name
b.
a boy regarded as too young to be addressed as Mr.
c.
a man who heads some institution, group, activity, or place
d.
in Scotland, the heir apparent of a viscount or baron
5.
a.
a metal matrix or mold made from the original recording and used to produce phonograph records in quantity
b.
a completed tape recording used to produce discs, cassettes, etc. for sale
6. Law
any of several court officers appointed to assist the judge by hearing evidence, reporting on certain matters, etc.
adjective
7.
being a master
8.
of a master
9.
chief; main; controlling; specif., designating a mechanism or contrivance that controls others or sets a standard or norm
a master switch, a master test sheet
verb transitive
10.
to become master of; control, conquer, etc.
11. Rare
to rule or govern as master
12.
to become an expert in (an art, science, etc.)
13.
to make a master (sense 5) of
Word origin
ME maistre < OE mægester, magister & OFr maistre, both < L magister, a master, chief, leader, orig., double compar. < base of L magnus, great < IE *me(h)- > much
COBUILD Collocations
master
chess master
Examples of 'master' in a sentence
master
They have mastered the dark arts of spin.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The nursery school had taught the old masters a lesson.
The Sun (2017)
Most then go on to do masters degrees then some specialise further after that.
Computing (2010)
The master bedroom is on the second floor.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is difficult to master but the learning curve is forgiving.
The Sun (2016)
He quickly mastered the language and then worked for the Japanese civilian police as an interpreter.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I am certainly not a master at this one.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In this instance, a family committed to film, music and theatre has produced a master of landscape.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All you can say is good luck to them, because as any data provider knows, banks are past masters when it comes to gaming the system.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Once she had mastered the art of highlighting and deleting she was left with her first post.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The telephones ring in empty houses from which masters and servants alike have gone.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Most of us struggle to master one.
The Sun (2009)
Trieste is a past master at avoiding history.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The master bedroom is not en suite.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Now the apprentices are challenging the old master.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The concentration involved in mastering the routines also exercises the brain and improves memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The master tapes are still in the vaults somewhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The world chess federation grand master claimed he was a victim of religious and disability discrimination.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The mind games are under way and the master is winning.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And he was completely the master of the political moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We went on to discuss the rest of my master plan.
Standen, Chris Superdog! Action plans that work for a happy and well-behaved pet (1990)
Was man his own master and reason his only means of interpreting the world?
Brian Thompson DEVASTATING EDEN: The Search for Utopia in America (2004)
He studied economics and accounting and took a master's degree in commerce.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
To make a new one, we had to produce a costly master mould.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The computer contained four months of his work and the master copy of the producer's album.
The Sun (2012)
You knew I should not stir till my lord and master appeared.
Jane Austen Emma (1815)
She's a brilliant artist, a complete master of the pencil.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
master
British English: master /ˈmɑːstə/ NOUN
A servant's master is the man that he or she works for.
My master ordered me to deliver a message.
American English: master
Arabic: صَاحِبُ الـْمَنْزِلِ
Brazilian Portuguese: mestre
Chinese: 主人
Croatian: gospodar
Czech: pán vládce
Danish: herre
Dutch: meester iemand die macht heeft
European Spanish: amo
Finnish: isäntä
French: maître
German: Meister
Greek: αφέντης
Italian: padrone
Japanese: 長 統率
Korean: 주인
Norwegian: herre
Polish: pan
European Portuguese: mestre
Romanian: stăpân
Russian: хозяин
Latin American Spanish: amo
Swedish: husbonde
Thai: เจ้านาย
Turkish: efendi
Ukrainian: господар
Vietnamese: chủ
British English: master /ˈmɑːstə/ VERB
If you master something, you manage to learn how to do it properly or understand it completely.
Students are expected to master a second language.
American English: master
Arabic: يُتقِنُ
Brazilian Portuguese: dominar
Chinese: 精通
Croatian: usvojiti
Czech: osvojit si zvládnout
Danish: mestre
Dutch: onder de knie krijgen
European Spanish: dominar
Finnish: hallita osata
French: maîtriser
German: meistern
Greek: τιθασεύω
Italian: padroneggiare
Japanese: 支配する
Korean: 터득하다
Norwegian: mestre
Polish: opanować
European Portuguese: dominar
Romanian: a stăpâni
Russian: овладевать
Latin American Spanish: dominar
Swedish: behärska
Thai: เข้าใจถ่องแท้
Turkish: üstesinden gelmek
Ukrainian: оволодівати
Vietnamese: tinh thông
Chinese translation of 'master'
master
(ˈmɑːstəʳ)
n(c)
[of servant, dog]主人 (zhǔrén)
[of situation]主宰者 (zhǔzǎizhě) (名, míng)
(o.f., = teacher) (in secondary school) 男教师(師) (nánjiàoshī) (位, wèi)
(o.f.)
Master Simon西蒙少爷(爺) (Xīméng shàoye)
(o.f., on envelope)
Master Simon Fisher西蒙·费(費)舍(捨)先生 (Xīméng Fèishě xiānsheng)