/ ˈmɑːstə(r); NAmE ˈmæs-/ noun , verb , adjective
■ 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.
master of sth a person who is able to control sth :
She was no longer master of her own future.
SKILLED PERSON
3.
master (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.
Master a title used for speaking to or about some religious teachers or leaders
HELP NOTE : There are many other compounds ending in master . You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
•
IDIOMS
- be your own master / mistress
—more at lord , serve verb
■ verb
[ vn ]
LEARN / UNDERSTAND
1.
to learn or understand sth completely :
to master new skills / techniques
French was a language he had never mastered.
CONTROL
2.
to manage to control an emotion :
She struggled hard to master her temper.
3.
to gain control of an animal or a person
■ adjective
[ only before noun ]
SKILLED
1.
master 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.