master

MAS-tur/ˈmæs.tɚ/UKMAH-stuh/ˈmɑːs.tə/

Pluralmasters

Verbmasters, mastering, mastered

27 meanings of master

Practice

1
expertnouncountable
A person who is extremely good at something, such as a great painter.
Like someone who knows a game so well they almost never lose.
He is a master at fixing old cars.
After years of practice, she became a master of the violin.
UsageSay a master of something: a master of chess.
Oppositenovice, amateur, beginner
Note
2
graduate degreenouncountable
A higher college degree earned after a first, lower degree.
Like a second, higher level you reach in school after the first one.
She is studying for a master's in economics.
He finished his master's degree last spring.
UsageSay a master's or a master's degree in a subject.
3
learn wellverbtransitive
To learn how to do something very well.
Like practicing a song until you can play it perfectly without thinking.
She mastered the piano after years of practice.
It takes patience to master a new language.
Similarlearn, grasp, perfect
4
nouncountable
A person who controls or owns someone or something, like a dog's owner or, in the past, a slave owner.
Like the person who is in charge and makes all the decisions.
The horse would only let its master ride it.
She is master of her own schedule now.
UsageSay someone is master of something when they control it.
Similarruler, lord, commander, owner
Oppositeservant, slave
Note
5
main oneadjective
Being the main or most important one of a group.
Like the main road that all the smaller roads connect to.
The master bedroom is the largest in the house.
We followed the master plan for the whole project.
UsagePut it before a noun: master plan, master bedroom.
Similarmain, principal, chief, central, primary
Oppositesecondary, subsidiary
6
adjective
Very skilled at a job or craft.
Like a cook who can make a hard dish perfectly every time.
The cabinet was built by a master carpenter.
She trained under a master chef in Paris.
UsagePut it before a job name: a master builder.
Similarexpert, skilled, accomplished, proficient
Oppositeunskilled, inexperienced
Note
7
nouncountable
A religious or spiritual teacher whom followers deeply respect and look to for guidance, often used as a title.
The young monks bowed low when their master entered the temple.
Each morning the students sat quietly and listened to Master Chen talk about kindness.
Similarteacher, guru
8
nouncountable
A person who holds the top office in a group, especially the leader of a Masonic lodge.
The master opened the lodge meeting on time.
Members elected a new master each year.
Note
9
nouncountable
A fully trained worker who is allowed to teach learners in a trade.
Like a fully trained chef who is allowed to teach new cooks.
The young carpenter studied under a master for seven years.
The apprentice worked under a master for seven years before opening his own shop.
Oppositeapprentice
10
original copynouncountable
The original version that copies are made from.
Like the original drawing you photocopy again and again.
The studio kept the master safe in a vault.
All the discs were made from a single master.
Similaroriginal
Oppositecopy, duplicate
11
finish a recordingverbtransitive
To make the original copy of a recording that other copies come from.
Like making the perfect first copy that all the others are based on.
The band will master their album next week.
Engineers master each track carefully before release.
Note
12
employernouncountable
In the past, the man in charge of a home and the people who worked there.
Like the boss who hires people and tells them what to do.
The servants worked hard to please their master.
Each morning, the master told the servants what work to do.
Similaremployer, head
Oppositeservant
Note
13
nouncountablesports
An older athlete who competes against others above a certain age, or the group for those athletes.
My grandpa still swims with the masters every Saturday morning.
At fifty, she races as a master against women her own age.
UsageUsually keep the s before another noun: a masters race.
Similarveteran
Note

Less common meanings

14
conquerverbtransitive
To take control of something or someone by force or strong effort.
Like finally winning against something that kept beating you.
She finally learned to master her fear of heights.
She took a slow breath and mastered her fear of the dark.
Similarcontrol, conquer, subdue, overcome, tame
Note
15
adjective
Being the original version that copies are made from.
Like the first drawing you keep clean and copy from.
Keep the master file in a safe place.
The master copy stays in the office at all times.
Similaroriginal
Oppositeduplicate
16
control devicenouncountable
A device that controls other devices, or that the others copy their settings from.
Like the lead singer the whole band follows to stay in time.
The master sends timing signals to every device on the network.
Each sensor checks with the master before it sends any data.
UsageMany people now use primary for the controlling device and secondary for a device it controls.
Similarprimary, coordinator
Oppositesecondary, slave, worker
Note
17
ship captainnouncountable
The captain in charge of a merchant ship.
Like the captain who is in charge of a whole ship.
The master gave the order to drop anchor in the bay.
A ship's master must keep the crew safe in a storm.
Similarcaptain, skipper
Note
18
dominant (sex)nouncountable
A man who takes control in a kind of adult sexual play, where his partner agrees to obey him.
She introduced him as her master to the others at the club.
A good master always checks in with his partner.
Similardom, dominant
Oppositesubmissive, slave
Note
19
skeleton keynounabbreviationellipsis
Short for master key: a key that opens every lock in a particular group.
The janitor used the master to open every office on the floor.
Only the manager carries a master for the whole building.
UsageIf the meaning is not clear, say master key in full.
Note
20
boy's titlenoundated
A polite word put before a boy's name, like 'mister' for a man.
The letter was addressed to Master Thomas Hill.
Where there are little Maſters and Miſſes in a Houſe, they are uſually great Impediments to the Diverſions of the Servants;
1731, [Jonathan] Swift, Directions to ServantsHere, Masters means young boys, a polite title like mister.
UsageUse a capital M: Master Tom.
Note
21
school teachernoundatedcountable
A male teacher at a school.
Like a teacher in an old-fashioned boys' school.
The master rapped the desk and called the class to order.
Every boy stood when the master entered the room.
UsageToday people say teacher.
Similarteacher, schoolteacher
Note
22
earn a degreeverbintransitive
To finish and earn a master's degree at a university.
UsageSay mastered in a subject for getting a master's degree.
23
MA holdernouncountable
A person who has earned a master's degree.
Like someone who has finished a higher level of school.
Each new Master of Science got a hood at graduation.
He is now a master of arts in history.
24
court officernouncountable
A court official appointed to help a judge with parts of a case.
The court asked a master to review the company's accounts.
The master reported her findings back to the judge.
Note
25
nouncountable
A wide film shot of a whole scene, used as the base that closer shots are later added into.
Like a wide team photo you take first, before snapping each player alone.
The director shot the master first, then filmed each actor up close.
They lost the master, so the editor had no wide shot to fall back on.
Note
26
verbintransitive
To act as the one in charge over others.
Similarcommand, rule, lead, govern
Oppositeobey, submit, defer, serve
27
verbobsolete
To own something.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of master apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin "magister" meaning chief, teacher, or leader. It came into English through Old English and was reinforced by Old French.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Master ultimately derives from Latin magister, meaning chief, teacher, or leader. en.wiktionary.org
The word entered English through Old English. en.wiktionary.org
Old French reinforced the English word. en.wiktionary.org