First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1master
noun mas·ter \ˈmas-tər\
Definition of MASTER
1
a (1) : a male teacher (2) : a person holding an academic degree higher than a bachelor's but lower than a doctor's b often capitalized : a revered religious leader c : a worker or artisan qualified to teach apprentices d (1) : an artist, performer, or player of consummate skill (2) : a great figure of the past (as in science or art) whose work serves as a model or ideal
2
a : one having authority over another : ruler, governor b : one that conquers or masters : victor, superior <in the new challenger the champion found his master> c : a person licensed to command a merchant ship d (1) : one having control (2) : an owner especially of a slave or animal e : the employer especially of a servant f (1) dial : husband (2) : the male head of a household
3
a (1) archaic : mr. (2) : a youth or boy too young to be called mister —used as a title b : the eldest son of a Scottish viscount or baron
4
a : a presiding officer in an institution or society (as a college) b : any of several officers of court appointed to assist (as by hearing and reporting) a judge
5
a : a master mechanism or device b : an original from which copies can be made; especially : a master recording (as a magnetic tape)
— mas·ter·ship \-ˌship\ noun
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Origin of MASTER
Middle English, from Old English magister & Anglo-French meistre, both from Latin magister; akin to Latin magnus large — more at much
Related to MASTER
- Synonyms
- ace, adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack (also crackajack), dab [chiefly British], dab hand [chiefly British], fiend, geek, guru, hand, hotshot, maestro, expert, maven (also mavin), meister, past master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp, virtuoso, whiz, wizard
Other Education Terms
2master
adjective
: highly skilled
: largest or most important
—used to describe an original version from which other copies can be made
Full Definition of MASTER
: being or relating to a master: as a : having chief authority : dominant b : skilled, proficient <a prosperous master builder — Current Biography> c : principal, predominant d : superlative —often used in combination <a master-liar> e : being a device or mechanism that controls the operation of another mechanism or that establishes a standard (as a dimension or weight) f : being or relating to a master from which duplicates are made
See master defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MASTER
12th century
Related to MASTER
- Synonyms
- arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, foremost, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme
3master
verb
: to succeed in controlling (something, such as an emotion)
: to learn (something) completely : to get the knowledge and skill that allows you to do, use, or understand (something) very well
mas·teredmas·ter·ing \-t(ə-)riŋ\
Full Definition of MASTER
transitive verb
1
: to become master of : overcome <mastered his fears>
2
a : to become skilled or proficient in the use of <master a foreign language> b : to gain a thorough understanding of <had mastered every aspect of publishing — Current Biography>
3
: to produce a master recording of (as a musical rendition)
See master defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MASTER
13th century
Related to MASTER
Other Audio Recording Terms
MASTER Defined for Kids
1master
noun mas·ter \ˈma-stər\
Definition of MASTER for Kids
1
: someone having authority over another person, an animal, or a thing <the slave's master> <the master of a ship>
2
: a male teacher
3
: an artist or performer of great skill <He is a master at making desserts.>
4
—used as a title for a young boy too young to be called mister <Master Timothy Roe>
2master
verb
mas·teredmas·ter·ing
Definition of MASTER for Kids
1
: to get control of <You must master your fear.>
2
: to become skillful at <I managed to master arithmetic.>
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