English Reference

Word

master

Phoneticsmas·ter

US/ˈmæstɝ/

UK/mˈɑːstɐ/

Definitions

01an expert

B2

n. someone who is extremely skilled at a particular activity or art.

n. a person who has acquired complete proficiency or superior skill in a specific craft, art, or science.

“He is a master of the piano and has played in concert halls all over the world.”

“The exhibition features works by the old masters, demonstrating the evolution of oil painting techniques over four centuries.”

02a postgraduate degree

B2

n. a university degree that you study for after you have finished your first degree.

n. a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery of a specific field.

“She decided to do a master in international law to improve her career prospects.”

“After completing her bachelor's in biology, she pursued a master in genetics to specialise in hereditary diseases.”

Synonyms

MAMScpostgraduate degree

03original recording or document

C1 · Music

n. the original version of a recording or document from which copies are made.

n. the original version of a film, sound recording, or document used as a template for duplication.

“The studio kept the master tapes in a fireproof room to protect the original recordings.”

“The artist fought a long legal battle to regain control over her masters from the record label.”

Technical

Antonyms

04ship captain

C1 · Nautical

n. the captain of a commercial ship.

n. the commander of a merchant vessel; a master mariner.

“The master of the ship was responsible for the safety of all the cargo.”

“The port authority requested a meeting with the ship's master to discuss the safety violations observed during docking.”

Formal · Technical

Synonyms

05to learn perfectly

B2

v. to learn a skill or language so well that you have no difficulty with it.

v. to acquire complete knowledge of or proficiency in a subject, technique, or art.

“It takes years of practice to truly master a foreign language.”

“She managed to master the complex software within a few weeks, much to the surprise of her colleagues.”

07main or primary

B2 · Engineering

adj. the most important or main version of something that controls others.

adj. denoting a primary mechanism or original version that controls or serves as a reference for others.

“The master bedroom is the largest room in the house.”

“The technician checked the master switch to ensure the entire electrical system was safely deactivated before repairs began.”

Technical

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“Four of the most important works of art by the 15th-century Renaissance master Antonello da Messina were stolen during a national holiday from a museum in the Sicilian port city of Messina.”
The Guardian · 16 Aug 2026
“Antonello da Messina was a 15th Century painter born and raised on Sicily, who would go on to become one of the early Renaissance period's master painters.”
BBC News · 16 Aug 2026

Word family

Idioms

jack of all trades, master of none — A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.

Master John Goodfellow — The penis.

Master of the Universe — A powerful person.

master plan — A comprehensive document that sets out an overall strategy; the strategy itself.

serve two masters — To take orders from two superiors or two conflicting parties.

Domains

ComputingEngineeringFilmLawMusicNautical

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Very common
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/master

English Reference