n. 1 owner, head, chief, leader, chieftain, commander, lord, governor, director, controller, employer, manager, overseer, supervisor, superintendent, taskmaster, slave-driver, principal, sovereign, monarch, ruler, Colloq lord high muck-a-muck, Pooh-Bah, kingpin, big fish, boss, skipper, Brit gaffer, US king-fish, the man, big fish, big boss, bossman; Slang US big cheese, big wheel, Mr Big, chief or head honcho He is master of all he surveys Decisions about punishment are referred to the master. 2 expert, authority, genius, craftsman, adept, maestro, mastermind, past master, old hand, virtuoso, ace, professional, Colloq pro, wizard, Chiefly Brit dab hand, US crackerjack; Slang US maven or mavin He is a master in the art of chicanery 3 teacher, tutor, instructor, guide, leader, guru, swami She studied under the master for years
adj. 4 adept, ingenious, expert, masterful, masterly, skilful, skilled, proficient After twenty years, he became a master craftsman 5 overall, controlling, principal, main, prime, basic, chief Only the leader knows the master plan for conquering the planet This is the master switch that turns off all the power. 6 main, biggest, principal, owner's The master bedroom had a bathroom en suite
v. 7 learn, grasp, become expert in, know inside out and backwards, know, understand He claims to have mastered the art of levitation 8 control, overcome, repress, suppress, subdue, bridle, check, quell, get the better of, Colloq get a grip on You must learn to master your emotions