master
mas·ter [master masters mastered mastering] noun, verb, adjective BrE [ˈmɑːstə(r)] NAmE [ˈmæstər]
noun
OF SERVANTS
1. (old-fashioned)a man who has people working for him, often as servants in his home
• They lived in fear of their master.
PERSON IN CONTROL
2. ~ of sth a person who is able to control sth
• She was no longer master of her own future.
SKILLED PERSON
3. ~ (of sth) a person who is skilled at sth
•a master of disguise
•a master of the serve-and-volley game
see also ↑past master
DOG OWNER
4. the male owner of a dog
• The dog saved its master's life.
compare ↑mistress
TEACHER
5. (BrE, old-fashioned)a male teacher at a school, especially a private school
•the physics master
compare ↑schoolmaster, ↑mistress
UNIVERSITY DEGREE
6. master's (also ˈmaster's degree)a second university degree, or, in Scotland, a first university degree, such as an MA
• He has a Master's in Business Administration.
see also ↑MA, ↑MB, ↑MBA, ↑MSc
7. (usually Master)a person who has a master's degree
•a Master of Arts/Science
CAPTAIN OF SHIP
8. the captain of a ship that transports goods
FAMOUS PAINTER
9. a famous painter who lived in the past
•an exhibition of work by the French master, Monet
see also ↑old master
ORIGINAL RECORD/TAPE/MOVIE
10. (often used as an adjective)a version of a record, tape, film/movie, etc. from which copies are made
•the master copy
TITLE
11. Master (old-fashioned)a title used when speaking to or about a boy who is too young to be called Mr (also used in front of the name on an envelope, etc.)
12. Master(in Britain) the title of the head of some schools and university colleges
•the Master of Wolfson College
13. Mastera title used for speaking to or about some religious teachers or leaders There are many other compounds ending in master. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
more at sb's lord and master at ↑lord, serve two masters at ↑serve v.
Word Origin:
Old English mæg(i)ster (later reinforced by Old French maistre), from Latin magister; probably related to magis ‘more’.
Example Bank:
•Chaplin, the grand master of physical comedy
•Fate can be a cruel master.
•He did a Master's at Hull University.
•He wants to be master of his own destiny.
•He's a past master at delaying meetings.
•His father was a wealthy, prominent Virginia slave master.
•His political masters are all old right-wing politicians.
•In May I completed my Master's in business administration.
•Lorenzo has a Master's in communications from Boston University.
•She got her Master's last year.
•The director is an unseen puppet master, operating behind the scenes.
•This portrait is the work of an acknowledged master.
•This was a time when many nations were trying to shake off their colonial masters.
•a Master's in politics
•corrupt people who would serve any master
Idiom: ↑your own master
verb
LEARN/UNDERSTAND
1. ~ sth to learn or understand sth completely
•to master new skills/techniques
• French was a language he had never mastered.
CONTROL
2. ~ sth to manage to control an emotion
•She struggled hard to master her temper.
3. ~ sth/sb to gain control of an animal or a person
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Old English mæg(i)ster (later reinforced by Old French maistre), from Latin magister; probably related to magis ‘more’.
Example Bank:
•He never completely mastered the art of lip-reading.
•Once you've mastered the basics, try learning more difficult chords.
•a technique that was surprisingly difficult to master
•the challenge of trying to master a new language
•Once you've mastered the basics, you can begin to experiment a little.
•The controls are pretty hard to master.
•You get great satisfaction from mastering a new skill.
adjective only before noun
SKILLED
1. ~ baker/chef/mason, etc. used to describe a person who is very skilled at the job mentioned
MOST IMPORTANT
2. the largest and/or most important
•the master bedroom
•a master file/switch
Word Origin:
Old English mæg(i)ster (later reinforced by Old French maistre), from Latin magister; probably related to magis ‘more’.
Example Bank:
•The master bedroom looks out over the back garden.
See also: ↑master's degree
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