ˈmɑ:stə n.,
adj., & v. --n. 1 a a
person having
control of persons or things. b an employer. c a
male head of a
household (master of
the house). d the
owner of a
dog,
horse, etc. e the owner of a
slave. f Naut. the
captain of a
merchant ship. g
Hunting the person in control of a pack of hounds etc. 2 a male
teacher or
tutor,
esp. a
schoolmaster. 3 a the head of a
college, school, etc. b the presiding
officer of a livery
company,
Masonic lodge, etc. 4 a person
who has or gets the upper
hand (we
shall see
which of us is master). 5 a person
skilled in a
particular trade and able to
teach others (often attrib.: master carpenter). 6 a
holder of a
university degree orig. giving
authority to teach in the university (Master of Arts; Master of Science). 7 a a revered teacher in
philosophy etc. b (the Master)
Christ. 8 a
great artist. 9
Chess etc. a
player of proved
ability at
international level. 10 an
original version (e.g. of a
film or
gramophone record)
from which a
series of copies can be
made. 11 (Master) a a
title prefixed to the
name of a
boy not old enough to be called Mr (Master T. Jones; Master Tom). b
archaic a title
for a
man of
high rank,
learning, etc. 12 (in England and Wales) an
official of the
Supreme Court. 13 a
machine or
device directly controlling
another (cf. SLAVE). 14 (Master) a
courtesy title of the
eldest son of a
Scottish viscount or
baron (the Master of Falkland). --adj. 1
commanding,
superior (a master spirit). 2 main,
principal (master bedroom). 3 controlling others (master plan). --v.tr. 1
overcome,
defeat. 2
reduce to subjection. 3
acquire complete knowledge of (a subject) or
facility in using (an
instrument etc.). 4
rule as a master. øbe master of 1
have at one's
disposal. 2
know how to control. be one's
own master be
independent or
free to do as
one wishes.
make oneself master of acquire a
thorough knowledge of or facility in using. Master
Aircrew an
RAF rank
equivalent to warrant-officer. master-at-arms (pl. masters-at-arms) the
chief police officer on a man-of-war or a merchant ship. master-class a
class given by a person of
distinguished skill, esp. in
music. master-hand 1 a person having commanding
power or great skill. 2 the
action of
such a person. master-key a key
that opens
several locks,
each of which
also has
its own key. master
mariner 1 the captain of a merchant ship. 2 a
seaman certified
competent to be captain. master
mason 1 a skilled mason, or one in
business on
his or
her own
account. 2 a
fully qualified
Freemason, who has passed the
third degree. Master of Ceremonies see
CEREMONY. Master of the Rolls (in England and Wales) a
judge who presides
over the Court of
Appeal and
was formerly in
charge of the
Public Record Office. master-stroke an outstandingly
skilful act of policy etc. master-switch a
switch controlling the supply of
electricity etc. to an
entire system. master
touch a
masterly manner of dealing
with something. master-work a
masterpiece. øømasterdom n. masterhood n. masterless adj. [OE mógester (later also f. OF maistre) f. L magister, prob. rel. to magis more]