Definitions for MASTERˈmæs tər, ˈmɑ stər

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

mas•terˈmæs tər, ˈmɑ stər(n.)

a person with the ability or power to control:
master of one's fate.
an owner of a slave or animal.
an employer, esp. of servants.
the male head of a household.
a person preeminent in a discipline, as an art or science:
the great masters of modern art.
an esteemed religious leader:
a Zen master.
Chiefly Brit. a male teacher.
Category: British
a worker qualified to teach apprentices.
a bridge or chess player who has won or placed in a designated number of tournaments.
a person who commands a merchant ship.
a victor; conqueror.
an officer of the court who assists a judge by taking testimony and making a report to the court.
a person who has been awarded a master's degree.
Category: Education
a boy or young man (used chiefly as a term of address).
an original document, drawing, manuscript, etc., from which copies are made.
Category: Printing
a tape or disk from which duplicates may be made.
Category: Hi-Fi and Audio
a device for controlling another device operating in a similar way.
Category: Machinery
Ref: Compare slave (def. 4). 1 6
(adj.)being master; exercising mastery; dominant.
chief; principal:
a master list.
controlling others of its type:
master switch.
being a master from which copies can be made:
a master tape.
Category: Radio and Television, Printing
eminently skilled:
master designer.
(v.t.)to make oneself master of:
to master a language.
to conquer; overcome.
to rule or direct as master.
to produce a master tape, disk, or record of.
Category: Hi-Fi and Audio

Origin of master:

bef. 900; ME maistre, maister, OE magister < L; akin to magnus great

mas′ter•ship`(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

maestro, master(noun)
an artist of consummate skill
"a master of the violin"; "one of the old masters"
overlord, master, lord(noun)
a person who has general authority over others
victor, master, superior(noun)
a combatant who is able to defeat rivals
master(noun)
directs the work of others
headmaster, schoolmaster, master(noun)
presiding officer of a school
master, master copy, original(noun)
an original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made
master, captain, sea captain, skipper(noun)
an officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship
master(noun)
someone who holds a master's degree from academic institution
master, professional(noun)
an authority qualified to teach apprentices
passkey, passe-partout, master key, master(adj)
key that secures entrance everywhere
chief(a), main(a), primary(a), principal(a), master(a)(verb)
most important element
"the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch"
master, get the hang(verb)
be or become completely proficient or skilled in
"She mastered Japanese in less than two years"
overcome, get over, subdue, surmount, master(verb)
get on top of; deal with successfully
"He overcame his shyness"
dominate, master(verb)
have dominance or the power to defeat over
"Her pain completely mastered her"; "The methods can master the problems"
master, control(verb)
have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of
"Do you control these data?"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

master(noun)ˈmæs tər, ˈmɑ stər
a man who leads or controls other people or animals
When called the dogs runs to his master.
masterˈmæs tər, ˈmɑ stər
an expert or sb who is very skilled at sth
a master builder; He's a master of persuasion.
masterˈmæs tər, ˈmɑ stər
an original of a document, photo, etc. used to make copies from
the master copy
master(verb)ˈmæs tər, ˈmɑ stər
to become skilled at
She finally mastered walking at the age of about 15 months.
masterˈmæs tər, ˈmɑ stər
to get control of, or overcome
Will humans ever master their environment?

Wiktionary

master(Noun)
Someone who has control over something or someone.
master(Noun)
Owner of an animal or slave.
A good master should take good care of his pets.
master(Noun)
The captain of a merchant ship; a master mariner.
master(Noun)
Someone who employs others.
master(Noun)
An expert at something.
Mark Twain was a master of fiction.
master(Noun)
A tradesman who is qualified to teach apprentices.
master(Noun)
A skilled artist.
master(Noun)
A courtesy title of a man or a boy; mister. See Master.
master(Noun)
A master's degree; a type of postgraduate degree, usually undertaken after a bachelor degree.
She has a master in psychology.
master(Verb)
to be a master
master(Verb)
to control
master(Verb)
to learn to a high degree of proficiency
It took her years to master the art of needlecraft.
master(Noun)
A person holding such a degree.
He is a master of marine biology.
master(Noun)
The original of a document or of a recording.
The band couldn't find the master, so they re-recorded their tracks.
master(Noun)
The primary wide shot of a scene, into which the closeups will be edited later.
master(Noun)
A parajudicial officer (such as a referee, an auditor, an examiner, or an assessor) specially appointed to help a court with its proceedings.
The case was tried by a master, who concluded that the plaintiffs were the equitable owners of the property....
master(Adjective)
masterful
master(Adjective)
main, principal or predominant
master(Adjective)
highly skilled
master(Adjective)
original
Master(Noun)
Prefix to a boy's name.
Master(Noun)
A religious teacher, often as an honorific title.
A good master should take good care of his pets.
Master(Noun)
A master's degree.
Master(Noun)
A person holding a master's degree, as a title.
Master(Noun)
The owner of a slave, in some literature.
Mark Twain was a master of fiction.
Master(Noun)
One of the triune gods of the Horned God in Wicca alongside the Father and Sage and representing a boy

Origin: mægester, from magister. Reinforced by maistre, mestre also from Latin magister.

Webster Dictionary

Master(noun)
a vessel having (so many) masts; -- used only in compounds; as, a two-master
Master(noun)
a male person having another living being so far subject to his will, that he can, in the main, control his or its actions; -- formerly used with much more extensive application than now. (a) The employer of a servant. (b) The owner of a slave. (c) The person to whom an apprentice is articled. (d) A sovereign, prince, or feudal noble; a chief, or one exercising similar authority. (e) The head of a household. (f) The male head of a school or college. (g) A male teacher. (h) The director of a number of persons performing a ceremony or sharing a feast. (i) The owner of a docile brute, -- especially a dog or horse. (j) The controller of a familiar spirit or other supernatural being
Master(noun)
one who uses, or controls at will, anything inanimate; as, to be master of one's time
Master(noun)
one who has attained great skill in the use or application of anything; as, a master of oratorical art
Master(noun)
a title given by courtesy, now commonly pronounced mister, except when given to boys; -- sometimes written Mister, but usually abbreviated to Mr
Master(noun)
a young gentleman; a lad, or small boy
Master(noun)
the commander of a merchant vessel; -- usually called captain. Also, a commissioned officer in the navy ranking next above ensign and below lieutenant; formerly, an officer on a man-of-war who had immediate charge, under the commander, of sailing the vessel
Master(noun)
a person holding an office of authority among the Freemasons, esp. the presiding officer; also, a person holding a similar office in other civic societies
Master(verb)
to become the master of; to subject to one's will, control, or authority; to conquer; to overpower; to subdue
Master(verb)
to gain the command of, so as to understand or apply; to become an adept in; as, to master a science
Master(verb)
to own; to posses
Master(verb)
to be skillful; to excel

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

master
The commanding officer of a United States Naval Ship, a commercial ship, or a government-owned general agency agreement ship operated for the Military Sealift Command by a civilian company to transport Department of Defense cargo. Also called MA.