plural masters
1
a(1)
: a male teacher
(2)
: a person holding an academic degree higher than a bachelor's but lower than a doctor's
also
: the degree itself
b
often capitalized
: a revered religious leader
c
: a worker or artisan qualified to teach apprentices compare apprentice entry 1 sense 1b, journeyman sense 1
d(1)
: an artist, performer, or player of consummate (see consummate entry 1 sense 1) skill
(2)
: a great figure of the past (as in science or art) whose work serves as a model or ideal
2
c
: a person licensed to command a merchant ship
d
: one having control
proved himself master of the situation
e
: an owner especially of an animal
f
: the employer especially of a servant
g
: a person who holds another person in slavery
h(1)
dialect
: 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 (see baron sense 2a)
4
a
: a presiding (see preside sense 2) officer in an institution or society (such 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 (see mechanism sense 1) or device
b
: an original from which copies can be made
especially
: a master recording (such as a magnetic tape)
: being or relating to a master: such as
a
: having chief authority : dominant
b
: skilled, proficient
a prosperous master builder—
Current Biography
Current Biography
c
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 (such as a dimension or weight)
f
: being or relating to a master from which duplicates are made
mastered; mastering
ˈma-st(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to become master of : overcome
mastered his fears
2
a
: to become skilled or proficient in the use of
master a foreign language
b
: to gain a thorough understanding of
had mastered every aspect of publishing—Current Biography
Current Biography3
: to produce a master recording of (something, such as a musical rendition)
Synonyms
Noun
- ace
- adept
- artist
- authority
- cognoscente
- connoisseur
- crackerjack
- crackajack
- dab [chiefly British]
- dab hand [chiefly British]
- expert
- fiend
- geek
- guru
- hand
- hotshot
- maestro
- maven
- mavin
- meister
- past master
- proficient
- scholar
- shark
- sharp
- virtuoso
- whiz
- wizard
Adjective
- arch
- big
- capital
- cardinal
- central
- chief
- dominant
- first
- foremost
- grand
- great
- greatest
- highest
- key
- leading
- main
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- overbearing
- overmastering
- overriding
- paramount
- predominant
- preeminent
- premier
- primal
- primary
- principal
- prior
- sovereign
- sovran
- supreme
Verb
Examples of master in a Sentence
Noun
the master and mistress of the house
She is a master of her craft.
Adjective
a master craftsman who makes fine wood furniture of his own designs
Verb
She mastered French in college.
He is determined to master every aspect of the business.
Recent Examples on the WebRobert Ross, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
The budding musician went on to earn a master’s degree in music from NYU Steinhardt, and now works as a musician and adjunct professor teaching Music Production for Animation at the Fashion Institute of Technology, according to his LinkedIn.
—Emy Lacroix, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Finding a a master of camouflage like the Burmese python in the Everglades sometimes can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning swan song The Boy and the Heron has taken flight at China’s box office in a major way.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Levin received two undergraduate degrees from Stanford, in English and math, in 1994, before obtaining a master’s in economics from Oxford University in 1996 and a PhD in the same field from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999.
—Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
San Diego State wins 17th consecutive quarterfinal game, move on to face Utah State in Friday night’s semis at Thomas & Mack
Facebook
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LAS VEGAS —
The masters of survive and advance survived and advanced.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024
Shiva Kumar Appam is set to graduate from San José State University with a master’s in electrical engineering in May.
—Taylor Telford, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
The evening began with a set from 17-year-old guitar goddess Grace Bowers, who more than held her own on a lineup featuring two masters of the craft.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 14 Mar. 2024
Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, 12 Nov. 2020
And coming back to her non-master suite?
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2022
On the lower deck, owners can choose between three or four cabins, with a mid-master stateroom anchoring the layout.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2022
Some of the most intriguing whiskey coming out of Beam these days is the work of Freddie Noe (who now holds the title of co-master distiller with his father Fred Noe), specifically his Little Book lineup of blended whiskeys.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 May 2022
There is a private entrance to the master suite and office, a large guest suite with a bathroom and an ADU with a separate entry on the lower level.
—oregonlive, 27 June 2020
The interior features high ceilings, custom millwork, and walnut floors and paneling, and the master suite has his-and-her baths and closets, a sitting area, and a balcony.
—TheWeek, 27 June 2020
Is Keaton physically hunky enough to play the master CIA death machine?
—Michael Heaton, cleveland.com, 15 Sep. 2017
Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
But, when — after a year and a half of Pentagon stalling — the missile batteries were finally sent, the Ukrainians not only mastered their use.
—Robert Zubrin, National Review, 7 Apr. 2024
The art of distressing denim is one that many jean companies have mastered—and even made more environmentally acceptable—since interest spiked in the mid-’70s amidst the rise of boho style.
—Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
At one and a half years old, Luna has mastered a technique that current AI models still struggle with.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
John has mastered grinding, tamping and breaking down espresso in an old-school machine.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
Like exercising or mastering a new language, working effectively with AI takes developing new habits (plus unlearning some old ones).
—Colette Stallbaumer, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Dan Bora, Philip Glass’ sound engineer, mixed the LP, and it was mastered by Telefon Tel Aviv’s Joshua Eustis.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 29 Mar. 2024
Of course, plenty of English language books are sold as well, for Francophiles who haven’t quite mastered their temps composés.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Noun
That’s where good headphones can reveal all the intricate detail and refinement contained on the master tapes.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
The budding musician went on to earn a master’s degree in music from NYU Steinhardt, and now works as a musician and adjunct professor teaching Music Production for Animation at the Fashion Institute of Technology, according to his LinkedIn.
—Emy Lacroix, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Finding a a master of camouflage like the Burmese python in the Everglades sometimes can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning swan song The Boy and the Heron has taken flight at China’s box office in a major way.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Levin received two undergraduate degrees from Stanford, in English and math, in 1994, before obtaining a master’s in economics from Oxford University in 1996 and a PhD in the same field from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999.
—Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
San Diego State wins 17th consecutive quarterfinal game, move on to face Utah State in Friday night’s semis at Thomas & Mack
Facebook
Show more sharing options
LAS VEGAS —
The masters of survive and advance survived and advanced.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2024
Shiva Kumar Appam is set to graduate from San José State University with a master’s in electrical engineering in May.
—Taylor Telford, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024
The evening began with a set from 17-year-old guitar goddess Grace Bowers, who more than held her own on a lineup featuring two masters of the craft.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 14 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The new board will comprise 11 master sommeliers, plus four non-master sommelier members.
—Esther Mobley, SFChronicle.com, 12 Nov. 2020
And coming back to her non-master suite?
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2022
On the lower deck, owners can choose between three or four cabins, with a mid-master stateroom anchoring the layout.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2022
Some of the most intriguing whiskey coming out of Beam these days is the work of Freddie Noe (who now holds the title of co-master distiller with his father Fred Noe), specifically his Little Book lineup of blended whiskeys.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 May 2022
There is a private entrance to the master suite and office, a large guest suite with a bathroom and an ADU with a separate entry on the lower level.
—oregonlive, 27 June 2020
The interior features high ceilings, custom millwork, and walnut floors and paneling, and the master suite has his-and-her baths and closets, a sitting area, and a balcony.
—TheWeek, 27 June 2020
Is Keaton physically hunky enough to play the master CIA death machine?
—Michael Heaton, cleveland.com, 15 Sep. 2017
Verb
Eilish confirmed late in February that her new album has been mastered, which is the usually last step before an album is manufactured and sent to streaming services.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
But, when — after a year and a half of Pentagon stalling — the missile batteries were finally sent, the Ukrainians not only mastered their use.
—Robert Zubrin, National Review, 7 Apr. 2024
The art of distressing denim is one that many jean companies have mastered—and even made more environmentally acceptable—since interest spiked in the mid-’70s amidst the rise of boho style.
—Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
At one and a half years old, Luna has mastered a technique that current AI models still struggle with.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
John has mastered grinding, tamping and breaking down espresso in an old-school machine.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
Like exercising or mastering a new language, working effectively with AI takes developing new habits (plus unlearning some old ones).
—Colette Stallbaumer, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Dan Bora, Philip Glass’ sound engineer, mixed the LP, and it was mastered by Telefon Tel Aviv’s Joshua Eustis.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 29 Mar. 2024
Of course, plenty of English language books are sold as well, for Francophiles who haven’t quite mastered their temps composés.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'master.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun, Adjective, and Verb
Middle English, from Old English magister & Anglo-French meistre, both from Latin magister; akin to Latin magnus large — more at much
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Adjective
12th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of master was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing master
Dictionary Entries Near master
Cite this Entry
“Master.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/master. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
master
1 of 3 noun
mas·ter
ˈmas-tər
1
a
: a male teacher
b
: a person holding an academic degree between a bachelor's and a doctor's
2
a
: an independent skilled worker
especially
: one qualified to teach apprentices
b
: an artist or performer of great skill
3
a
: one having authority : ruler
b
: one that conquers or masters
c
: the captain of a merchant ship
d
: an owner especially of a slave or animal
e
: the employer especially of a servant
4
—used as a title for a boy too young to be called mister
5
: a master machine or device
master
2 of 3 adjective1
: being a master
a master carpenter
2
: being the main or guiding one
a master plan
3
: controlling the operation of other devices
a master clock
master
3 of 3 verb
mastered; mastering
-t(ə-)riŋ
1
: overcome sense 1, subdue
master an enemy
master a desire
2
: to become skilled at
master arithmetic
Etymology
Noun
Middle English master "master," from Old English magister and early French meistre, both meaning "master" and both from Latin magister "master, teacher, one who holds high political or military office" — related to maestro, magistrate, mistress
Legal Definition
master
1 of 2 noun
mas·ter
1
: an individual or entity (as a corporation) having control or authority over another: as
a
: the owner of a slave
2
: an officer of the court appointed (as under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53) to assist a judge in a particular case by hearing and reporting on the case, sometimes by making findings of fact and conclusions of law, and by performing various related functions
Note: Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a master may be a magistrate or else may be a person with some special expertise in the matter. The word master as used in the Federal Rules encompasses a referee, an auditor, an examiner, and an assessor. If the master makes findings of fact, they are reviewable de novo by the court except when the parties have stipulated that the findings will be reviewed for clear error or that the master's findings are to be final.
master
2 of 2 adjective
: being the principal or controlling one : governing a number of subordinate like things
a master insurance policy
More from Merriam-Webster on master
Nglish: Translation of master for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of master for Arabic Speakers
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