master
master — verb
- masterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- masters3rd person singular
- mastering-ing form
- masteredpast simple
1. to learn something such as a skill or subject so thoroughly that you can do it w
to learn something such as a skill or subject so thoroughly that you can do it without difficulty
Gabriela mastered the basics of Spanish in just six months of daily practice.
master + the basics of [subject] (skill-acquisition pattern)
The young cook mastered the art of making fresh pasta by watching her grandmother.
master + the art of [skill] (idiomatic collocation)
Cyrus spent two years mastering the rules of chess before his first tournament.
Zola wants to master the piano so she can play songs for her family.
Once you master the controls of this drone, flying it becomes surprisingly easy.
once you master + [thing], [result] (conditional pattern)
- master a skill
- master a language
- master the basics
- master the art of
- master a technique
- learn
broader; does not suggest achieving a high level of skill
- get the hang of
informal; suggests basic competence rather than thorough skill
- excel at
focuses on performing well, not the learning process
- struggle with
having difficulty learning something
Grammar Patterns
master + noun phrase (skill / subject / technique)
Usage Note
The object is typically a skill, subject, technique, or instrument — an area of knowledge that requires time and practice to learn well.
Common Mistakes
2. to stop yourself from letting a strong feeling such as anger, fear, or nervousne
to stop yourself from letting a strong feeling such as anger, fear, or nervousness affect what you do
Christopher finally mastered his fear of public speaking after months of therapy.
master + fear / emotion (direct object for controlled feeling)
Minho took up meditation to master his anger before it caused problems at work.
Sana mastered her nervousness before every big competition by practising deep breathing.
master + nervousness (common collocation with emotion nouns)
Ignacio found it hard to master his disappointment when he did not get the job.
find it hard to + master + feeling (difficulty structure)
It took Jude years to master his impatience during long meetings with clients.
- master your fear
- master your anger
- master your nerves
- master your temper
- master your disappointment
- give in to
opposite action — letting the feeling win
- lose control of
failure to manage the emotion
Grammar Patterns
master + noun phrase (specific emotion or feeling)
Usage Note
The object must name a specific feeling or emotion (fear, anger, nervousness, disappointment, impatience), not a person or situation.
Common Mistakes
master — noun
- mastersingular
- mastersplural
1. someone who looks after and is responsible for a pet animal, such as a dog or a
someone who looks after and is responsible for a pet animal, such as a dog or a horse
The frightened cat climbed a tall tree and would not come down for its master.
possessive determiner 'its' for animal-owner relationship
A good dog master spends time training the animal every single day.
collocation: dog master / horse master
When Tendai called, the horse trotted straight over to its master at the fence.
The neighbour returned the injured bird to its master.
- faithful master
- return to its master
- master's voice
- owner
more general, less formal; 'owner' does not imply the same caregiving relationship
- pet
the animal being cared for
Grammar Patterns
master + of + noun phrase
Usage Note
This sense is most common with domesticated pets (dogs, cats, horses). The object of 'master's' care is typically an animal that lives closely with humans.
2. in past times, a person who employed servants in their home or who kept other pe
in past times, a person who employed servants in their home or who kept other people as slaves
The servants prepared the master's evening meal and laid out his clothes.
master's + domestic object (meal, clothes, rooms)
In the 18th century, some plantation masters owned hundreds of slaves.
Historical records show that the master of that estate treated his workers severely.
master of + [estate / household / plantation]
After the rebellion, the frightened masters fled from the island on a small boat.
- master of the house
- plantation master
- master and servant
Grammar Patterns
master + of + noun phrase
Usage Note
This sense now carries strong historical connotations. In modern usage it may sound outdated or offensive when applied to employer-employee relationships.
3. someone with the power to direct an organization, group, or situation and decide
someone with the power to direct an organization, group, or situation and decide what happens
The project master approved the final budget after reviewing every department's request.
master + of + [organization / domain]
Ari was the master of the entire sales division and reported directly to the CEO.
The master of the operation gave clear instructions before the team began the rescue.
master of the operation / situation
When the fire broke out, everyone looked to the station master for direction.
- master of the situation
- station master
- master planner
- subordinate
a person under another's authority
Grammar Patterns
master + of + organization / situation
Usage Note
Unlike sense 2, this sense has no historical or oppressive connotation — it simply refers to the person who controls an activity or runs an organization.
4. the qualified officer in command of a merchant ship or cargo vessel at sea
the qualified officer in command of a merchant ship or cargo vessel at sea
The master of the cargo ship checked the weather report before departing from port.
master of the [ship / vessel] — formal nautical title
Captain Zayd served as master on a container ship for more than twenty years.
A licensed master is required by law to command every merchant vessel at sea.
licensed master — formal qualification
The harbour master directed the large tanker safely into the narrow dock.
- ship's master
- master of a vessel
- licensed master
- harbour master
- captain
more common in everyday use; 'master' is the formal title
Grammar Patterns
master + of + ship / vessel
Usage Note
Still used as the official job title for the captain of a merchant or cargo ship. 'Harbour master' is a separate role — the person managing port traffic.
5. someone who has an extremely high level of skill in a craft, sport, art, or othe
someone who has an extremely high level of skill in a craft, sport, art, or other activity
Lakshmi became a master of the piano after practising for fifteen years.
master of [skill / art form]
The chess master defeated every opponent during the international tournament.
Nellie is a master at baking traditional French bread without any written recipe.
master at [activity] — preposition pattern
Romi spent three summers studying under a master calligrapher in Kyoto.
- master of the art
- chess master
- master craftsman
- master at
Grammar Patterns
master + of + [skill / craft]
master + at + [activity]
Usage Note
Often used in compounds: chess master, grand master, master craftsman. The phrase 'a master of [something]' emphasises both deep knowledge and practical skill.
Common Mistakes
6. a famous European painter who worked before the 19th century and whose artwork i
a famous European painter who worked before the 19th century and whose artwork is highly valued
The museum displayed three paintings by the Old Master Rembrandt.
proper noun following 'Old Master' for specific painters
Auction houses in London often sell Old Master paintings for millions of dollars.
Camila wrote her thesis on the use of light in Spanish Old Master works.
Old Master + works / paintings / drawings
Collectors from around the world flew to Paris for the Old Master exhibition.
- Old Master painting
- Old Master exhibition
- Dutch Old Master
- old master
non-capitalised variant; same meaning
Grammar Patterns
Old Master + painter / painting
the Old Masters (plural)
Usage Note
Often capitalized as 'Old Master'. The term typically refers to European painters active between the 13th and 18th centuries, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Vermeer.
7. a man whose job is to teach children in a school, particularly at a private scho
a man whose job is to teach children in a school, particularly at a private school in the UK
The school hired a new master to teach Latin to the older students.
noun phrase: [subject] master
Elena's grandfather was the maths master at a private academy in Edinburgh.
The English master gave Christopher a signed copy of his favourite novel.
collocation: English master / maths master / history master
Reuben remembered his old master who first taught him to love poetry.
- school master
- maths master
- English master
- form master
- old master
- teacher
general term, no restriction on school type or gender
- instructor
often used for practical subjects or training, not typically for school teaching
- tutor
teaches one student or a small group, often outside the regular school system
- pupil
the person being taught by a master
Usage Note
Now considered somewhat old-fashioned. Still used in the UK for teachers at private or grammar schools, especially in subject titles such as 'Latin master' or 'geography master'.
8. a formal title used in Britain for the person who leads certain schools or a col
a formal title used in Britain for the person who leads certain schools or a college within a university
The Master of the college welcomed the new students at the opening ceremony.
capitalised title: the Master of [institution]
Mira wrote to the Master to ask about the scholarship programme.
Professor Faisal was elected Master of St. Margaret's College last autumn.
The Master addressed the whole school during the final assembly of the term.
Camila's uncle served as Master of a grammar school in northern England.
- College Master
- Master of [institution]
- elected Master
- acting Master
- headmaster
more widely used term for the head of a school; less specific to certain UK institutions
- principal
the usual term in the US and many non-UK systems
- dean
used for the head of a university faculty or college, not typically for schools
Usage Note
Capitalised when used as a formal title, e.g. 'the Master of Trinity Hall'. The female equivalent is 'Mistress' or, in some institutions, 'President'.
Common Mistakes
9. a word placed before a young boy's name in formal writing, used instead of 'Mr'
a word placed before a young boy's name in formal writing, used instead of 'Mr' for boys who are not yet teenagers
The wedding invitation was addressed to Master Christopher Payne.
formal address: Master + first name + surname
Soraya wrote 'Master Niran' on the birthday card for her nephew.
The envelope bore the old-fashioned greeting 'Dear Master Reuben'.
Master Omar was only six when he started at the boarding school.
- Master [name]
- Dear Master
- Master [first name] [surname]
- Mr
used for older boys and adult men
Usage Note
Still used in formal correspondence (envelopes, invitations) in British English for boys up to about age 12. After that age, 'Mr' becomes appropriate. Now less common than in the past.
Common Mistakes
10. the original high-quality recording of music, a film, or other media that serves
the original high-quality recording of music, a film, or other media that serves as the source for producing duplicates
The band kept the master in a locked safe at the studio.
collocation: the master / original master
Once the master tape was lost, the label could no longer produce new copies.
collocation: master tape
Camila found the master file for the song on an old hard drive.
The engineer made a digital backup of the master before editing the tracks.
Without the original master, the sound quality of the later copies slowly worsened.
- master recording
- master tape
- master file
- original master
- master copy
- original
more general term; does not specifically imply audio or video production
- source file
digital equivalent, used in computing and media production
- copy
a duplicate made from the master
Usage Note
Common in the music and film industries. The master is the highest-quality version, often stored separately from the copies sold to the public.
Common Mistakes
11. someone who has completed a university degree one level above a bachelor's and o
someone who has completed a university degree one level above a bachelor's and one level below a doctorate
Faisal is a master of economics from the University of Cape Town.
pattern: a Master of [subject]
The programme is open to masters of engineering who want to teach at university.
Sayaka became a master of fine arts after two years of intensive study.
collocation: Master of Fine Arts / Master of Science
Roya was proud to call herself a master of public health.
Last June, Priya became a master of chemistry after handing in her master's thesis on catalysts.
became a master of [subject] after + [academic milestone]
- Master of Arts
- Master of Science
- Master of Laws
- Master of Business Administration
- master's graduate
- postgraduate
broader term for anyone studying beyond a bachelor's degree, not limited to master's completion
- graduate degree holder
more general; could refer to any level of completed degree
- undergraduate
a student who has not yet completed a bachelor's degree
Usage Note
The standard pattern is 'a Master of [field]', often abbreviated (MA, MSc, MFA, etc.). The word 'master' alone can refer to the degree holder, though the full title is more common in formal contexts.
Common Mistakes
be one's own master
idiomto be independent and free to make your own decisions without being controlled by anyone else
After leaving the corporate world, Eli was finally his own master.
She opened her own shop because she wanted to be her own master.
master of ceremonies
idiomthe person who introduces speakers or performers and keeps a formal event running smoothly
Sana acted as master of ceremonies for the school talent show.
The wedding master of ceremonies announced each speech and organised the evening programme.
a person who has tried many different skills or jobs but has not become excellent at any one of them
Camille tried painting, pottery, and dancing but became a jack of all trades, master of none.
The saying 'jack of all trades, master of none' warns against spreading yourself too thin.
serve two masters
idiomto try to follow two opposing principles, loyalties, or demands at the same time, which is impossible to do well
A journalist cannot serve two masters — truth and political loyalty pull in opposite directions.
The manager tried to serve two masters by pleasing both staff and executives, but failed.
Being able to decide for yourself without anyone else controlling you.
After years of working for others, Mia decided to be her own master.
Being your own mistress means you choose your own working hours.
master — adjective
- masterpositive
- masterercomparative
- masterestsuperlative
1. having complete skill and knowledge about a particular job or activity, so that
having complete skill and knowledge about a particular job or activity, so that you can do it better than most people.
Ritu learned wood carving from a master carpenter in Kyoto.
attributive use: master + profession noun
The gallery is showing five paintings by a master painter from Brazil.
Diego trained for many years to become a master chef at a famous hotel.
collocation: master chef / master carpenter / master tailor
Only a master musician could play that difficult piece with such emotion.
pattern: only a master [profession] could...
Niran's grandfather was a master tailor who made suits for important people.
- master carpenter
- master chef
- master craftsman
- master tailor
- master musician
- master painter
- master builder
- expert
Master implies the highest possible level, while 'expert' can describe anyone with deep knowledge in a field.
- skilled
'Skilled' is a more general term for having ability; 'master' suggests someone at the very top of their profession.
- professional
'Professional' means someone does something as a paid job; 'master' emphasizes exceptional quality rather than payment.
Grammar Patterns
master + profession noun
Usage Note
Only used before a noun that names a job or profession that requires special training. You cannot say 'The carpenter is master'; you must say 'The carpenter is a master carpenter.'
Common Mistakes
Word family
- masterynounC1
- masterfuladjectiveC1
- masterlyadjectiveC2
- mastermindnounC1
- masterpiecenounB2
- masterclassnounB2
- masterworknounC2
- headmasternounB2
- masterfullyadverbC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/5
Master, expert, virtuoso, professional, and genius all describe a person with outstanding ability, but at different levels and in different contexts. A master has achieved the highest level of skill through long practice and deep understanding — the word carries connotations of authority and artistry (a master carpenter, a chess master). An expert has deep knowledge and skill in a specific field, often backed by formal training or experience, but does not necessarily imply the creative mastery of a true master. A virtuoso is reserved for extraordinary technical brilliance in the performing arts, especially music, and suggests dazzling skill rather than broad authority. A professional does something as a paid job to a high standard, but the term does not distinguish between average and exceptional performers. A genius implies innate, exceptional intellectual or creative power that may not come from practice at all. For everyday use: "She is an expert in tax law" (specialised knowledge), "He is a master of the craft" (supreme skill through practice), "The pianist is a virtuoso" (technical brilliance), "Einstein was a genius" (innate brilliance).
Common collocations
Etymology
From Old English mægister, borrowed from Latin magister (chief, head, teacher, director), which is a comparative form built on the root mag- (great). The original idea was "a greater or superior person." The word became Middle English maister, later settling into the modern spelling master.