- master
- mas|ter1 [ˈma:stə US ˈmæstər] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(skilled person)¦2 be a past master (at something)3¦(man with authority)¦4 be your own master5 be master of your own fate/destiny6¦(original)¦7 Master of Arts/Science/Education etc8¦(teacher)¦9¦(young boy)¦10¦(university official)¦11¦(captain)¦▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1000-1100; : Old French; Origin: maistre and the word it came from, Latin magister 'chief']1.) ¦(SKILLED PERSON)¦someone who is very skilled at somethingmaster of▪ Runyon was a master of the short story.▪ a master of disguise▪ Hitchcock was an acknowledged master of suspense.master at (doing) sth▪ She's a master at manipulating people.▪ a work of art by a true master2.) be a past master (at sth)BrE to be very good at doing something because you have done it a lot▪ He's a past master at getting free drinks out of people.3.) ¦(MAN WITH AUTHORITY)¦old-fashioneda) a man who has control or authority over servants or workers→↑mistress▪ You'll have to ask the master's permission.b) the male owner of a dog→↑mistress4.) be your own masterto be in control of your own life or work▪ Determined to be his own master, Simmons quit in 1998 and started working freelance.5.) be master of your own fate/destinyliterary to be in complete control of what happens to you▪ Our country must be master of its own economic destiny.6.) ¦(ORIGINAL)¦a document, record, etc from which copies are made▪ I gave him the master to copy.7.) Master of Arts/Science/Education etca university ↑degree in an ↑arts subject, a science subject etc that you can get after your first degree8.) ¦(TEACHER)¦a) BrE old-fashioned a male teacher→↑headmaster, mistress ↑mistressb) also Mastera wise person whose ideas and words other people accept and follow▪ a Zen master9.) ¦(YOUNG BOY)¦ also Masterold-fashioned used when speaking or referring to a young boy▪ How's young Master Toby today?10.)¦(UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL)¦ also Masterthe person who is in charge of some university colleges in the UK▪ the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge11.) ¦(CAPTAIN)¦old-fashioned someone who is in charge of a shipmaster 2master2 v [T]1.) to learn a skill or a language so well that you have no difficulty with it▪ the skills needed to master a new language▪ I never quite mastered the art of walking in high heels.2.) to manage to control a strong emotion= ↑overcome▪ He had learned to master his fear of heights.master 3master3 adj [only before noun]1.) a master copy of a document, recording etc is the one from which copies are mademaster list/copy/recording etc▪ We've lost the master disk.2.) most important or main▪ the master control center at NASA3.) master craftsman/chef/plumber etcsomeone who is very skilled at a particular job, especially a job that involves working with your hands▪ a society of master chefs
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
