mastering
mastering — verb
- masteringpresent simple I / you / we / they
- masterings3rd person singular
- masteringing-ing form
- masteringedpast simple
1. to succeed in stopping a strong emotion or feeling from affecting your behaviour
to succeed in stopping a strong emotion or feeling from affecting your behaviour
Yumi struggled to master her fear of flying before the trip to Japan.
master + fear / anxiety / anger
After months of therapy, Luca finally mastered his anger during difficult meetings.
Heloísa took a long walk to master her frustration after the argument.
The soldier had to master his panic as the gunfire grew closer.
Apinya closed her eyes and mastered her nerves before the big presentation.
- surrender to
to stop fighting an emotion and let it take over
- succumb to
formal; to give way to a strong emotion
文法句型
master + noun phrase
用法筆記
Object is typically an unpleasant emotion such as anger, fear, panic, or frustration.
常見錯誤
2. to learn a skill, subject, or activity so completely that you can do it easily a
to learn a skill, subject, or activity so completely that you can do it easily and confidently
Chidi spent a year mastering the basics of Mandarin Chinese.
master + the basics / the art of / a skill
Ada has mastered the art of making fresh pasta from simple ingredients.
Omar mastered three programming languages during his time at university.
Tamar mastered the difficult piano piece after weeks of daily practice.
Sumin quickly mastered the new accounting software at her office job.
- learn
broader; you can 'learn' something without becoming excellent at it
- get the hang of
informal; suggests reaching basic competence rather than full skill
- pick up
informal; often implies learning incidentally or without formal study
- struggle with
to find something difficult to learn or do
文法句型
master + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in the pattern 'master the art of + noun/gerund' when referring to a complex ability.
常見錯誤
mastering — noun
1. a person who owns a pet or working animal and is in charge of feeding, training,
a person who owns a pet or working animal and is in charge of feeding, training, and looking after it
The dog ran straight to its master when Dewi called out from the gate.
noun with possessive determiner: its master
A good horse master spends time brushing and grooming the animal every day.
compound noun: horse master
The cat refused to eat until its master sat down beside the bowl.
Elena took her puppy to a trainer who teaches young dogs to obey their master.
At the farm, the sheep know their master's voice and follow him to the barn.
文法句型
the + noun
possessive + noun
用法筆記
Commonly used with possessive determiners (his master, her master) or as part of a compound (dog master, horse master).
常見錯誤
2. a person for whom a servant works or who keeps slaves
a person for whom a servant works or who keeps slaves
The butler had served the same master for over thirty years.
collocation: served the same master
In historical novels, the servants often fear their master's anger.
The slaves worked from sunrise to sunset without any permission from their master.
Cyrus read a book about house servants in Victorian England who rarely saw their master.
文法句型
the + noun
possessive + noun
用法筆記
Historically common; in modern contexts it usually appears in fiction or historical discussion rather than everyday use.
常見錯誤
3. someone with the power to decide what happens and to control a situation, organi
someone with the power to decide what happens and to control a situation, organisation, or group of people
After the manager quit, nobody knew who the master of the office was.
pattern: master of [place/organisation]
Ishaan wanted to be master of his own destiny, so he started a business.
idiomatic: master of one's own destiny
The village elders acted as the masters of the ceremony during the annual festival.
Talia believed that everyone should be the master of their own time at work.
The project had no clear master, so tasks fell through the cracks.
- follower
someone who accepts another's direction
- subordinate
formal, someone lower in rank
文法句型
the + noun + of + noun
one's own + noun
用法筆記
Often used in the fixed phrase 'master of something' (master of the situation, master of the house). When no clear leader exists, we say 'there is no master'.
常見錯誤
4. the person who commands a cargo vessel on its journeys from one port to another
the person who commands a cargo vessel on its journeys from one port to another
The master of the cargo ship ordered the crew to prepare for the storm.
pattern: master of [ship]
Captain Mira served as the master of a container vessel for twelve years.
Every port requires the ship's master to sign the cargo documents before unloading.
The master inspected the engine room before the freighter left the harbour.
文法句型
the + noun + of + noun
用法筆記
A formal or technical term; in everyday English 'captain' is far more common. 'Master' is used mainly in legal documents, shipping regulations, and historical contexts.
5. someone whose skill or knowledge in a specific field has reached the highest pos
someone whose skill or knowledge in a specific field has reached the highest possible level
Walid studied under a master carpenter who had been building furniture for fifty years.
compound: master carpenter / master craftsman
The gallery is showing paintings by the old masters from the sixteenth century.
fixed phrase: old masters
Chef Takeshi is a true master of Japanese cuisine and runs a three-star restaurant.
Eve spent ten years training to become a master in the art of violin making.
Only a master potter can shape clay that thin without the bowl collapsing.
文法句型
a + noun + in/of + noun
noun + noun (modifier)
用法筆記
Very productive as the first part of a compound noun (master chef, master builder, master gardener). It indicates the highest level of skill, above 'expert' or 'specialist'.
常見錯誤
6. a man who teaches in a school, especially in a traditional or boarding-school se
a man who teaches in a school, especially in a traditional or boarding-school setting
The boys stood up when the master entered the classroom at St. Mark's.
formal British context: master entered the classroom
Hassan's father was a mathematics master at a grammar school near Bristol.
compound: mathematics master
Luca remembered the strict geography master who made him memorise every capital city.
The headmaster asked the new English master to take charge of the drama club.
- teacher
gender-neutral and the standard modern term
- schoolmaster
older, more formal term for a male teacher
文法句型
the + noun
Master + surname (as title)
用法筆記
Chiefly British in private or grammar schools. Increasingly old-fashioned; 'teacher' is the neutral term. Still found in compounds like 'headmaster', 'housemaster', and 'games master'.
常見錯誤
7. a person who holds the top leadership position at a school, college, or similar
a person who holds the top leadership position at a school, college, or similar academic organisation — especially in the UK system, where the Master is the head of a college at universities such as Oxford or Cambridge.
Aisha met the Master of her college to discuss the scholarship application.
Master of + [college]
The college Master, Dr. Kenji Yamamoto, welcomed visitors from Seoul National University.
college Master as title + appositive name
When the old Master retired, a search committee was formed to find a replacement.
Every new student at the college must meet the Master within the first week.
文法句型
the Master of [institution]
Master + of + [college / school name]
用法筆記
Frequently capitalised when used as a formal title before or instead of a person's name. This sense is most common in UK higher education — comparable terms in the US include 'president' or 'dean'.
常見錯誤
8. a polite word placed before a boy's full name as a formal title, used instead of
a polite word placed before a boy's full name as a formal title, used instead of 'Mr' for boys who are still young — typically under about twelve or thirteen years old.
The invitation was addressed to Master Thiago Santos and his parents.
addressed to Master [full name]
Master James Thompson will be joining his parents for dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Master + full name as formal title before a name
Master Dmitri Volkov received a silver medal for his piano performance.
The headmaster handed Master Oliver Chen the trophy for best student of the term.
文法句型
Master + [first name] + [last name]
Master + [full name]
用法筆記
This title is old-fashioned and uncommon in everyday speech. In modern British English it is mostly found in very formal written invitations, hotel registrations, or traditional school correspondence.
9. the first and highest-quality version of a recording, document, or digital file,
the first and highest-quality version of a recording, document, or digital file, from which all later copies are produced.
The recording studio keeps the master in a locked cabinet at all times.
keeps the master in [location]
If the master file is lost, the photographer cannot print new copies.
master file — compound noun pattern
The band's manager sent the master to the production company last Tuesday.
A digital master of the album was created and stored on a secure server.
文法句型
the master [noun]
master copy / master tape / master file
用法筆記
Often used in audio and video production, photography, and publishing to refer to the original source material. 'Master' in this sense is frequently combined with a following noun such as 'copy', 'tape', 'file', or 'recording'.
常見錯誤
mastering — adjective
- masteringpositive
- more masteringcomparative
- most masteringsuperlative
1. in the process of learning to do something well — used to describe someone who i
in the process of learning to do something well — used to describe someone who is actively working to gain complete control over a skill, subject, or activity, especially before they have reached full expertise.
The mastering pianist practiced Chopin's ballade for three hours every evening before her recital.
mastering + noun (person actively learning a skill)
Sari, a mastering violinist, recorded herself playing each movement to identify her weak spots.
The mastering carpenter measured every joint twice before cutting, afraid to waste good wood.
Jiwoo, a mastering piano student, passed the advanced exam after three years of daily practice.
The mastering potter threw twelve bowls and kept only the last one she made.
- learning
broader; does not imply the determination to reach full control
- training
emphasises formal instruction rather than self-directed effort
- practising
focuses on repetition rather than overall skill acquisition
文法句型
mastering + noun (person who is actively learning)
用法筆記
This is the present participle of 'to master' used as an attributive adjective. It describes someone who IS in the process of mastering a skill, not someone who HAS already mastered it. Compare 'master carpenter' (already an expert) with 'mastering carpenter' (still learning).
常見錯誤
2. used to describe a gesture, look, voice, or quality that actively asserts contro
used to describe a gesture, look, voice, or quality that actively asserts control over a situation, group, or activity — like a firm gesture that takes charge of a meeting, or a steady voice that cuts through noise and commands attention.
With a mastering gesture, Nicholas took command of the chaotic board meeting.
mastering gesture — a gesture that takes control of a situation
Kofi's mastering stare made the school bully back down immediately.
Naoko's mastering baton guided the orchestra through the complex symphony.
Yael's mastering voice cut through the noise of the crowded weekend market.
Diya's mastering patience wore down both sides of the bitter negotiation.
- commanding
more common and less formal; similar meaning of asserting authority
- controlling
straightforward synonym but can have negative connotations
- domineering
negative; implies excessively controlling behaviour
- submissive
ready to obey others rather than control them
- hesitant
showing uncertainty rather than confident control
文法句型
mastering + noun (gesture, look, or quality that takes control of a situation)
用法筆記
This sense uses 'mastering' as the present participle of the verb 'to master' (to gain control over), describing a gesture, look, voice, or quality that actively asserts control over a situation or other people. It is more formal and literary than sense 1. The noun it modifies is always an abstract action or quality, not a person — compare 'mastering pianist' (a person learning) with 'mastering gesture' (an action that controls).