[mas.ter] n [ME, fr. OE magister & OF maistre, both fr. L magister; akin to L magnus large--more at much] (bef. 12c) 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 cap: 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 this young, obscure challenger the champion found his ~" c: a person licensed to command a merchant ship d (1): one having control (2): an owner esp. of a slave or animal e: the employer esp. 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; esp: a master phonograph record or magnetic tape -- mas.ter.ship n
[2]master adj (12c): being or relating to a master: as a: having chief authority: dominant b: skilled, proficient "a prosperous ~ builder --Current Biog." 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 [3]master vt mas.tered ; mas.ter.ing (13c) 1: to become master of: overcome
2. a: to become skilled or proficient in the use of "~ a foreign language" b: to gain a thorough understanding of "had ~ed every aspect of publishing --Current Biog."
3: to produce a master phonograph record or magnetic tape of (as a musical rendition)