— masterless , adj.
/mas"teuhr, mah"steuhr/ , n.
1. a person with the ability or power to use, control, or dispose of something: a master of six languages; to be master of one's fate.
2. an owner of a slave, animal, etc.
3. an employer of workers or servants.
4. the male head of a household.
5. a person eminently skilled in something, as an occupation, art, or science: the great masters of the Impressionist period.
6. a person whose teachings others accept or follow: a Zen master.
7. Chiefly Brit. a male teacher or schoolmaster.
8. a worker qualified to teach apprentices and to carry on a trade independently.
9. a title given to a bridge or chess player who has won or placed in a certain number of officially recognized tournaments.
10. a person holding this title.
11. a person who commands a merchant ship; captain.
12. a victor or conqueror.
13. a presiding officer.
14. an officer of the court to whom some or all of the issues in a case may be referred for the purpose of taking testimony and making a report to the court.
15. the Master , Jesus Christ.
16. a person who has been awarded a master's degree.
17. a boy or young man (used chiefly as a term of address).
18. Also called matrix . an original document, drawing, manuscript, etc., from which copies are made.
19. a device for controlling another device operating in a similar way. Cf. slave (def. 5).
20. Recording.
a. matrix (def. 13).
b. a tape or disk from which duplicates may be made.
21. Also called copy negative . Photog. a film, usually a negative, used primarily for making large quantities of prints.
22. See master of foxhounds .
23. Archaic. a work of art produced by a master.
adj.
24. being master; exercising mastery; dominant.
25. chief or principal: a master list.
26. directing or controlling: a master switch.
27. of or pertaining to a master from which copies are made: master film; master matrix; master record; master tape.
28. dominating or predominant: a master play.
29. being a master of some occupation, art, etc.; eminently skilled: a master diplomat; a master pianist.
30. being a master carrying on one's trade independently, rather than a worker employed by another: a master plumber.
31. characteristic of a master; showing mastery.
v.t.
32. to make oneself master of; become an adept in: to master a language.
33. to conquer or overcome: to master one's pride.
34. to rule or direct as master: to master a crew.
35. Recording. to produce a master tape, disk, or record of: The producer recorded, mixed, and mastered the new album.
[ bef. 900; ME maistre, maister, OE magister magnus great ]
Syn. 1. adept, expert. 26. main, leading, primary, prime, cardinal. 31. adept, expert, skillful. 33. subdue, control. 34. govern, manage.