master
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 Master . 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. Christianity. 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.
an audio disk or tape from which duplicates may be made.
Computers an original data file 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.
Archaic. a work of art produced by a master.
directing or controlling: a master switch.
of or relating to a master from which duplicates are made: a master recording;the master copy of a piece of software.The master film had been misfiled in the archives.
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.
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 audio file, disk, phonograph record, or tape of: The producer recorded, mixed, and mastered the new album.
Origin of master
1Other words for master
Other words from master
- mas·ter·less, adjective
- out·mas·ter, verb (used with object)
- sub·mas·ter, noun
- un·der·mas·ter, noun
- un·mas·tered, adjective
- well-mas·tered, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use master in a sentence
Seeing how the master-mariner honours the magnetic needle, every thoughtful passenger will probably consult it in like manner.
Ancient Faiths And Modern | Thomas InmanThe envoy was, in fact, arrested on the very day he landed—for he traveled by boat, disguised as a master mariner.
Parisians in the Country | Honore de BalzacNow the cog's head was turned Francewards, and the shipman walked the deck, a peaceful master-mariner once more.
The White Company | Arthur Conan DoylePresently the soldier said: "Shall we sail to-morrow, master Mariner?"
The Grey Cloak | Harold MacGrathFor such gibbering lunacy as this the master mariner had no fit reply.
The Skipper and the Skipped | Holman Day
British Dictionary definitions for master (1 of 2)
/ (ˈmɑːstə) /
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
a person with exceptional skill at a certain thing: a 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 influence: they 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 controlling: master plan
(modifier) designating a device or mechanism that controls others: master switch
(modifier) main; principal: master bedroom
the master Southern African informal the man of the house
to become thoroughly proficient in: to master the art of driving
to overcome; defeat: to master your emotions
to rule or control as master
Origin of master
1Derived forms of master
- masterdom, noun
- masterhood, noun
- masterless, adjective
- mastership, noun
British Dictionary definitions for Master (2 of 2)
/ (ˈmɑːstə) /
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
see past master.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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