mast
/mɑːst/ (bre, ipa) · /mæst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmast/ (ame, mw)
mast — noun
- mastsingular
- mastsplural
1. the tall upright pole rising from the deck of a sailing vessel, used to hold up
the tall upright pole rising from the deck of a sailing vessel, used to hold up the sails so wind can drive the craft forward.
Yael climbed the mast to fix a torn rope before the storm reached the harbour.
collocation: climb the mast
The old fishing boat had a wooden mast painted bright red.
typical attributive: wooden / steel mast
Strong winds snapped the mast in half during the race off the coast of Taiwan.
Amihan tied the rope tightly to the foot of the mast.
A sailor sat at the top of the mast, watching for whales.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (radio tower) and sense 3 (flagpole): only this sense is fixed to a boat or ship and carries sails.
常見錯誤
2. a high metal structure that carries the antenna used by radio stations, TV chann
a high metal structure that carries the antenna used by radio stations, TV channels, and mobile networks to send and pick up signals.
The phone company built a new mast on the hill above Ignacio's village.
collocation: build / put up a mast
Local residents protested against the radio mast planned for the school playground.
common modifier: radio mast / TV mast / phone mast
After the earthquake, three masts collapsed and the whole town lost mobile signal.
Ayesha works as an engineer who checks the masts across the south of England.
- tower
more general; American English prefers 'tower' over 'mast' for this structure
- transmitter
focuses on the broadcasting equipment rather than the support pole
用法筆記
More common in British English than American English; Americans usually say 'tower' or 'antenna tower' for this structure.
常見錯誤
3. a tall pole, often fixed to a building or set in the ground, on which a flag is
a tall pole, often fixed to a building or set in the ground, on which a flag is raised.
At sunrise, the soldiers raised the national flag to the top of the mast.
collocation: raise the flag to the top of the mast
Aylin lowered the school flag halfway down the mast to honour the late headteacher.
pattern: flag at half-mast (mourning)
A small wooden mast stood in front of the town hall, holding the regional flag.
The wind tore the flag from the mast during the heavy storm last night.
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'at half-mast' — describing a flag lowered partway as a sign of mourning. The plain word 'flagpole' is more frequent in everyday speech; 'mast' is preferred in formal or ceremonial contexts.
常見錯誤
4. nuts and seeds, such as acorns or beechnuts, that have fallen from forest trees
nuts and seeds, such as acorns or beechnuts, that have fallen from forest trees and are eaten by wild or farm animals on the ground.
Wild pigs in the New Forest feed on mast every autumn before the cold months.
typical collocation: feed on mast
Maeve studied how a good year of mast affects the local deer population.
pattern: a good / poor year of mast
Farmers once let their pigs roam the woods to eat mast under the oak trees.
When mast is plentiful, squirrels store extra food for the winter.
- pannage
specifically the practice of letting pigs feed on forest mast; even rarer and more technical
用法筆記
An old, technical word used mainly in forestry, ecology, and historical writing. Modern everyday English would say 'acorns and nuts' or 'fallen nuts' instead.
mast — verb
- mastpresent simple I / you / we / they
- masts3rd person singular
- masting-ing form
- mastedpast simple
1. to fit a boat or ship with one or more masts, usually as part of building or rep
to fit a boat or ship with one or more masts, usually as part of building or repairing it.
The shipyard in Plymouth masted the new vessel last week before her first sea trial.
pattern: shipyard / yard + masts + vessel
Folake watched the workers carefully mast the small wooden boat in the dry dock.
collocation: mast a boat / ship
Once the ship had been masted, the crew finally raised her sails to sea.
Older shipbuilders were paid by the day to mast and rig each new fishing boat.
- rig
covers fitting all sails, ropes, and masts; broader than 'mast'
- unrig
to remove the masts, sails, and ropes from a vessel
文法句型
mast + ship / boat
用法筆記
A specialised shipbuilding term; in everyday writing, learners should use 'put a mast on' or 'fit a mast to'. Often appears in the passive — 'the ship was masted at the yard'.