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master definition

mas·ter (mastər, mäs-)

noun

  1. a man who rules others or has control, authority, or power over something; specif.,
    1. a man who is head of a household or institution
    2. an employer
    3. one who owns a slave or an animal
    4. the captain of a merchant ship
    5. the one that excels in a contest, skill, etc.; victor or superior
    6. Chiefly Brit. a male schoolteacher or tutor
    7. a person whose teachings in religion, philosophy, etc. one follows or professes to follow
    8. 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.,
    1. a highly skilled workman or craftsman qualified to follow his or her trade independently and, usually, to supervise the work of others
    2. an artist regarded as great
    3. Games, Sports a person recognized as having achieved the highest degree of skill chess master, golf master
  4. a title variously applied to
    1. Archaic any man or youth: now superseded by the variant Mister, usually written Mr. when placed before the name
    2. a boy regarded as too young to be addressed as Mr.
    3. a man who heads some institution, group, activity, or place
    4. in Scotland, the heir apparent of a viscount or baron
    1. a metal matrix or mold made from the original recording and used to produce phonograph records in quantity
    2. a completed tape recording used to produce discs, cassettes, etc. for sale
  5. Law any of several court officers appointed to assist the judge by hearing evidence, reporting on certain matters, etc.

Etymology: 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

adjective

  1. being a master
  2. of a master
  3. 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

transitive verb

  1. to become master of; control, conquer, etc.
  2. Now Rare to rule or govern as master
  3. to become an expert in (an art, science, etc.)
  4. to make a master (sense ) of

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
master Synonyms

master

modif.


master

n.

  1. One who directs others

    chief, leader, governor, ruler, director, lord, overseer, supervisor, superintendent, boss, lord and master*, honcho, sachem, judge, patriarch, chieftain, commander, commandant; see also administrator.

    Antonyms servant*, underling*, subject. *

  2. A teacher

    instructor, preceptor, mentor; see teacher 1.

  3. One who possesses great skill

    genius, maestro, savant, sage, scientist, past master, champion, prima donna, virtuoso, protagonist, connoisseur, academician, pundit, fellow, doctor, boss*; see also artist 1, 2, scholar 2.

    Antonyms disciple*, beginner*, novice. *

  4. A supreme being, especially Christ

    supreme being, Christ, Messiah; see god 1, 2, 3.

  5. The source of copies

    original, control, file copy; see copy.


master

v.

  1. To conquer

    subdue, rule, vanquish; see defeat 1.

  2. To become proficient in

    gain mastery in, understand, comprehend; see learn 1, study 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

master Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • acknowledged: For this reason, we look to begin with, at least at the acknowledged masters of the past.

Modifies a noun

  • degree: At the age of 21 Quy moved to London, to study a masters degree in design at the Royal College of Art.

Noun used with modifier

  • puppet: Did your Socialist party puppet masters say you had to do this?

Possessives

  • degree: Holding a master's degree in mathematics is related to gains in student achievement.

Preposition: of

  • ceremony: He does not wait for an eloquent preacher to act as master of the ceremonies to Him; He introduces Himself.

Preposition: with

  • en-suite: The accommodation comprises of two bedrooms ( master with en-suite ), separate bathroom/wc, lounge and fitted kitchen.
master usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

master quotes

I am a free man, I do not need to copy Petrarch or Boccaccio. My own genius is enough. Let others worry themselves about style and so cease to be themselves. Without a master, without a model, without a guide, without artifice,Igotowork and earnmy living, my well- being, and my fame.What do Ineedmore? Witha goose quill and a few sheets of paper I mock the universe.

-Aretino, Pietro

The Master: records prove the title good: Yet figures fail you, for they cannot say How many men whose names you never knew Are proud to tell their sons they saw you play. They share the sunlight of your summer day Of thirty years; and they, with you, recall How, through those well-wrought centuries, your hand Reshaped the history of bat and ball.

-Aristotle

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

-Bible (NewTestament)

master quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"master." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/master>

APA Style

master. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/master

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