master

UK: 'master', 'Master': /ˈmɑːstə/

US: /ˈmæstɚ/

US: (mas′tər, mä′stər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mas•ter /ˈmæstɚ/   n. 

[countable]
1. a person with the ability or power to control:
   She simply wanted to be the master of her own fate.
2. an owner of a slave or animal:
   The dog followed its master everywhere she went.
3. a person very skilled or famous in a discipline, as an art or science:
   one of the great masters of modern art; a Zen master.
4. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] a male teacher.
5. Printing an original document, drawing, manuscript, tape, or disk, etc., from which copies are made.

adj. [before a noun]

6. chief;
   principal:
   a master list; The house has a large master bedroom.
7. controlling others of its type:
   a master switch.
8. Radio and Television, Printing being a master from which copies can be made:
   a master tape.
9. very skilled:
   a master designer.

v. [~ + object]

10. to make oneself master of;
    to learn to use or control:
    to master a foreign language.
11. to conquer;
    overcome:
    He soon mastered the difficulties of his new job.
12. Sound Reproduction to produce a master tape, disk, or record of.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mas•ter  (mas′tər, mä′stər), n. 

1. 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.
2. an owner of a slave, animal, etc.
3. an employer of workers or servants.
4. the male head of a household.
5. a person eminently skilled in something, as an occupation, art, or science:
   the great masters of the Impressionist period.
6. a person whose teachings others accept or follow:
   a Zen master.
7. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] a male teacher or schoolmaster.
8. a worker qualified to teach apprentices and to carry on a trade independently.
9. a title given to a bridge or chess player who has won or placed in a certain number of officially recognized tournaments.
10. a person holding this title.
11. a person who commands a merchant ship;
    captain.
12. a victor or conqueror.
13. a presiding officer.
14. 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.
15. Religion the Master, Jesus Christ.
16. Education a person who has been awarded a master's degree.
17. a boy or young man (used chiefly as a term of address).
18. Printing Also called matrix. an original document, drawing, manuscript, etc., from which copies are made.
19. Mechanical Engineering a device for controlling another device operating in a similar way. Cf. slave (def. 5).
20. Recording.
    • Sound Reproduction matrix (def. 13).
    • Sound Reproduction a tape or disk from which duplicates may be made.
21. Photography Also called copy negative. a film, usually a negative, used primarily for making large quantities of prints.
22. See master of foxhounds. 
23. [Archaic.] a work of art produced by a master.

adj. 

24. being master;
    exercising mastery;
    dominant.
25. chief or principal:
    a master list.
26. directing or controlling:
    a master switch.
27. Radio and Television, Printing of or pertaining to a master from which copies are made:
    master film;
    master record;
    master tape.
28. dominating or predominant:
    a master play.
29. being a master of some occupation, art, etc.;
    eminently skilled:
    a master diplomat; a master pianist.
30. being a master carrying on one's trade independently, rather than a worker employed by another:
    a master plumber.
31. characteristic of a master;
    showing mastery.

v.t. 

32. to make oneself master of;
    become an adept in:
    to master a language.
33. to conquer or overcome:
    to master one's pride.
34. to rule or direct as master:
    to master a crew.
35. Sound Reproduction Recording. to produce a master tape, disk, or record of:
    The producer recorded, mixed, and mastered the new album.

• Latin; akin to magnus great
• Middle English maistre, maister, Old English magister bef. 900

mas′ter•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. adept, expert.
• 26. main, leading, primary, prime, cardinal.
• 31. adept, expert, skillful.
• 33. subdue, control.
• 34. govern, manage.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

master / ˈmɑːstə/ noun

1. a man in a position of authority, ownership, or control, such as the head of a household
2. a person with exceptional skill at a certain thing
3. (as modifier): a master thief
4. (often capital) a great artist, esp an anonymous but influential artist
5. a person who has complete control of a situation
6. an abstract thing regarded as having power or influence: they regarded fate as the master of their lives
7. a workman or craftsman fully qualified to practise a trade and to train others in it
8. (as modifier): master carpenter
9. an original copy, stencil, tape, etc, from which duplicates are made
10. (as modifier): master copy
11. a player of a game, esp chess or bridge, who has won a specified number of tournament games
12. the principal of some colleges
13. a highly regarded teacher or leader whose religion or philosophy is accepted by followers
14. a graduate holding a master's degree
15. the chief executive officer aboard a merchant ship
16. a person presiding over a function, organization, or institution
17. a male teacher
18. an officer of the Supreme Court of Judicature subordinate to a judge
19. the superior person or side in a contest
20. (often capital) the heir apparent of a Scottish viscount or baron
21. (modifier) overall or controlling: master plan
22. (modifier) designating a device or mechanism that controls others: master switch
23. (modifier) main; principal: master bedroom

verb (transitive)

1. to become thoroughly proficient in
2. to overcome; defeat: to master your emotions
3. to rule or control as master

Etymology: Old English magister teacher, from Latin; related to Latin magis more, to a greater extent

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Master / 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