Meaning & use
master
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Meanings
nouncountable
A person with exceptional skill in an art, craft or activity.
Grammar: Often followed by of: a master of disguise. It can also come before a noun: a master carpenter.
Patterns
- a master of something
- a master at something
The old woodworker was a true master of his craft.
She is a master at making complicated ideas simple.
Visitors came to watch the chess master play.
nouncountableold-fashioned
A man who has control or authority over others, such as an employer, a slave owner or the owner of an animal.
Grammar: Traditionally male; the opposite is servant, slave or, for a pet, no equal word. Some uses now sound old-fashioned.
Patterns
- the master of the house
- someone's master
The servant waited for his master to return.
The dog ran to greet its master.
He was master of the ship for twenty years.
verbtransitive
To learn something so thoroughly that you can do it or understand it with ease.
Grammar: Takes an object: master a skill. It is not used without one.
Patterns
- master something
It took her years to master the violin.
Children master basic grammar surprisingly fast.
He finally mastered the art of baking bread.
verbtransitiveformal
To bring a feeling or difficulty under control.
Grammar: Takes an object, usually an emotion or a problem: master your fear.
Patterns
- master your fear
- master a difficulty
She struggled to master her nerves before the speech.
He mastered his anger and answered calmly.
They mastered the difficult terrain with careful planning.
adjectivebefore a noun
Being the main or original one from which others are controlled or copied.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a master key, a master copy.
Patterns
- master key
- master copy
The caretaker has a master key for every room.
Keep the master copy and give out photocopies.
The master bedroom has its own bathroom.
Word forms
| plural | masters |
|---|---|
| third person singular | masters |
| past tense | mastered |
| past participle | mastered |
| -ing form | mastering |
Common combinations
- master a skill
- It takes patience to master a new skill.
- master craftsman
- A master craftsman built the staircase by hand.
- master of ceremonies
- A cheerful master of ceremonies introduced each act.
- master key
- The hotel manager used a master key to open the door.
- master plan
- Nobody understood the master plan behind the project.
- master's degree
- She is studying for a master's degree in economics.
Synonyms and how they differ
- expert
- Expert describes deep knowledge or experience, while master suggests the highest level of artistry and control.
- virtuoso
- Virtuoso is mostly used for dazzling performers, especially musicians, so it is narrower than master.
- owner
- Owner simply says who possesses something, whereas master adds the idea of power over it.
- learn
- Learn only means to gain knowledge or skill, but master means you have reached a very high level of it.
Opposites
Word family
- mastery noun
- complete skill or control
- masterful adjective
- showing great skill or confident authority
- masterpiece noun
- an outstanding work of art
- masterly adjective
- done with great skill
- mastermind noun
- a clever person who plans something complex
Commonly confused: master or mister?
master vs mister
Mister, usually written Mr, is a polite title before a man's name. Master is an older title for a boy or for someone in authority.
Practice
Choose the sentence in which master means to learn thoroughly.
Choose one answer.
Only 'master the guitar' is a verb meaning to learn something completely. The others use the noun for authority or the adjective for main or expert.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “master”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.