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master

master

527 4.2
A person who is very skilled in an activity or art
  • noun
  • /ˈmæstər/
: maestro
  • She studied under a renowned master chef who taught her the intricacies of French cuisine.
  • a master teacher
  • become a master
  • master and apprentice

Maybe look at the masters for inspiration.

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Examples

  • These people still are master diagnosticians and healers.

  • I learned from the master.

  • You know, if you want to become a master pianist, right?

  • Apparently, I am a master pianist.

  • So why is every Kung Fu master a coach?

  • Facilitators have been identified as master teachers, either by state vision consultants or special-purpose schools.

    Academic text (2008)
  • We who arrived after the ballet master's death had for him a godlike reverence.

    Academic text (2008)
  • As a master of chess, he has defeated many opponents in international competitions.

  • He is considered a master in his field, with decades of experience as an art historian.

Synonyms

expert
vsmaster
∞ 3.2

A person who knows a lot about a subject and can help others

is highly skilled and may also teach or defeat others
specialist
vsmaster
267 3.9

A person who knows a lot about one area of work or study

is wider, covering general excellence and possible teaching roles
maestro
vsmaster
88 7.6

A very skilled conductor or musician who leads an orchestra

is more general, applying to many fields beyond high artistry
grandmaster
vsmaster
  • Specialized
8 6.7

A person who has the highest title in chess, bridge, or some martial arts

is broader, meaning highly skilled without requiring an official top title
adept
vsmaster
4 4.7

A person who is very skilled at something

is broader, adding teaching, authority, or leadership roles
Jedi Master
vsmaster
  • Literature
4 7.9

A wise, highly skilled leader in the Jedi group from Star Wars, also a word for someone very skilled

is nonfictional general expert who can also teach or defeat others
chess master
vsmaster
3 5.8

A person who plays chess very well, often with an official title or rating

is wider, covering any high skill or a person who may teach
Jedi
vsmaster
  • Slang
1 6.9

A person who is very skilled in a particular area

is formal and neutral, sometimes implying teaching or authority
past master
vsmaster
1 6.9

A person very skilled at something after many years of practice

is recognized for high skill and sometimes for teaching or victory
mavin
vsmaster
  • US
1 9.9

A person who knows a lot about a subject and advises others

is more general, often implying authority and the ability to teach
specializer
vsmaster
  • US
1 7.6

A person who focuses on and is very skilled in one area of work or study

is broader, meaning high skill across fields or leadership

Antonyms

132 2.8

A person who does an activity like a sport or hobby for pleasure, not as a job

51 3.4

A person new to an activity who has little experience

Idioms

master of none
  • Informal
1 6.5

Someone who knows a little about many things but is not an expert in any

Compounds

57 4.0

A long guide for how to develop and manage a city or campus over many years

The largest bedroom in a house, usually for the main adults who live there

puppet master
  • Offensive
19 7.9

A person who secretly controls other people and their actions

master sergeant
  • Specialized
14 6.0

A senior military rank in the Army or Marines above sergeant and below sergeant major

11 9.6

A person who thinks they have total control over people or events

11 3.4

A key that opens many different locks in a building

old master
  • Specialized
10 8.4

A great European painter from before 1800 or a painting by them

9 9.9

A belief that one race is better and should rule others

9 5.3

A class taught by an expert for advanced students, often in music or art

8 4.2

A person who welcomes guests and introduces speakers at a formal event

master-at-arms
  • Specialized
5 8.4

A navy officer who keeps order and discipline on a ship

Jedi Master
  • Literature
4 7.9

A wise, highly skilled leader in the Jedi group from Star Wars, also a word for someone very skilled

A university degree for study in arts, humanities or social science after a first degree

3 5.8

A person who plays chess very well, often with an official title or rating

A university degree taken after a bachelor's for study in science or related subjects

A degree you study after a first degree that teaches management and finance

2 5.3

A person who teaches formal dances like ballet and the waltz

A university degree you study after your first degree that teaches how to manage businesses

master file
  • Specialized
1 4.2

The main computer record that holds original data for reference

A university degree for artists, writers and performers after a first degree

1 6.9

A person very skilled at something after many years of practice

An advanced degree in religion for people training to be priests or ministers

sailing master
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An officer on a ship who navigates and reads charts to set the course

1 6.8

Person who teaches people how to sit on and control horses at a stable

1 7.7

A soldier who trains new soldiers in marching and discipline

A university degree taken after a first degree to study teaching and schools

master key
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A secret code that lets you open many protected files or services

1 4.0

The first version of a document or recording used to make copies

A man who directs, teaches, and rehearses dancers in a ballet company

A higher university degree in law taken after a first degree in law to study a special area

A university degree after a first degree that prepares you to work as a librarian

master cylinder
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A car part that holds brake fluid and pushes it to make the brakes work

1 7.4

A person who used to be the leader of a group or organization

1 6.7

A person who gets and cares for the things used in plays or films

1 6.7

A high Air Force rank for senior enlisted members above master sergeant and below chief master sergeant

A university degree after a bachelor's that focuses on engineering research

dancing-master
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A person who teaches dancing for formal or social events

A university degree in theology taken after a bachelor's degree

A person who leads and trains a choir before performances so the singers perform together

1 5.6

An advanced degree from university that lets you become an architect

A university degree taken after a bachelor's degree for people learning advanced teaching methods and classroom practice

A person who asks people for answers and runs a quiz show on radio or TV

A degree you study for after university in literature

The senior judge who leads the civil Court of Appeal in England and Wales

A university degree about government policy and running public services

A tall prickly plant with spiky leaves and round flower heads once thought to cure rattlesnake bites

A graduate degree for studying how libraries collect, organize and share information

7.0

A teacher who organizes and looks after sports and games at school

puppet master
  • Specialized
7.7

The central server in a Puppet system that stores settings and tells other computers what to do

A tall, prickly plant with round flowers that people once used to treat snakebites

How Skilled

master
527 4.2
expert
∞ 3.2
practitioner
108 4.0
beginner
78 1.0

Surface Forms

master singular
masters plural

Etymology

Master comes from the Latin magister, which meant 'teacher' or someone 'greater' in skill and is related to the English major ('greater'). So a master is a person with great skill who can teach or guide others.