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master

master

3.7
A person in charge of a group or place
  • noun
  • /ˈmæstər/
translation icon : amo
  • For the rest, he knows himself to be the master of his days.
  • master of ceremonies
  • master and servant
  • masters and slaves

If you don't know you're the master, you're not the master.

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Examples

Synonyms

leader
vsmaster
1.0

A person who guides and directs a group, organization, or country

stresses formal authority and control rather than inspiration
chief
vsmaster
1.9

A person who leads a group or community

is a general leader role not always the single top authority
commander
vsmaster
3.6

A person in charge of a group who gives orders and leads them

is a general authority figure not limited to military command
manager
vsmaster
1.6

A person who controls money and work in a company

is about having authority over people and places rather than just managing resources
captain
vsmaster
611 1.1

The person in charge of a ship or aircraft and its crew

is any controlling person, not limited to transport command situations
lord
vsmaster
422 4.8

A man who has power over people, like a ruler or noble

is a practical leadership role, not necessarily noble or hereditary
supervisor
vsmaster
346 2.8

A person who watches workers and helps them do their jobs correctly

is a broader leadership role not limited to supervising tasks
ruler
vsmaster
153 2.1

A person who has power over a country or its people

can be any in-charge person, not necessarily a regional governor
mistress
vsmaster
142 5.5

A woman who has authority and directs the work of others

is a gender-neutral authority role rather than specifically female leadership
skipper
vsmaster
122 4.1

A person in charge of a ship or boat

is a broader authority position not restricted to boating contexts
controller
vsmaster
116 4.2

A person who directs and manages a team or activity

is a general boss role without stressing technical control or restraint
superior
vsmaster
102 4.9

A person who has higher rank or authority in a group

is any in-charge person, not necessarily higher ranked within an organization
headmaster
vsmaster
  • UK
69 3.2

A person who runs a school, often a private school

is any person in charge of a place or activity, not only schools
overlord
vsmaster
21 8.4

A person who has great power and controls a country or people

is a leadership role without suggesting overwhelming or absolute control
top dog
vsmaster
  • Informal
21 4.6

A person with the most power in a group

is a formal position of control, not just informal dominance
schoolmaster
vsmaster
  • UK
11 5.5

A male teacher who is often the head of a school

is a general person in charge, not specifically a school teacher
puppet master
vsmaster
  • Offensive
9 7.9

A person who secretly controls other people and their actions

is an overt role of charge and visible authority
sea captain
vsmaster
6 3.2

A licensed officer who commands a merchant ship at sea

is a general authority role not limited to commanding ships
supremo
vsmaster
3 8.4

A person who is the most important leader in a group or organization

is a leadership role that may not always be the absolute top
alpha dog
vsmaster
  • Informal
2 7.0

A confident person who takes charge and leads a group that others follow

is a formal in-charge role rather than an informal dominance trait
dominant
vsmaster
1 4.1

A person or thing that has the most power in a group

emphasizes official control or being in charge rather than influence
dominator
vsmaster
1 7.4

A person or thing that has control over others

is a role of authority without implying aggressive domination
puppetmaster
vsmaster
  • Offensive
1 8.2

A person who secretly controls other people from behind the scenes

is public authority and official control, not hidden manipulation
Master of the Universe
vsmaster
  • Informal
1 9.6

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

is an ordinary authority position without grandiose claims of omnipotence
tsar of the team
vsmaster
  • UK
8.7

A person who leads a team and makes most decisions

is a general in-charge role across many settings, not only teams
games-master
vsmaster
  • UK
7.0

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

is a wider authority role beyond organizing school activities

Antonyms

295 1.6

A person who supports a leader and accepts their direction

21 4.8

Lower in rank or importance and under someone's control

Idioms

master of none
  • Informal
6.5

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

Compounds

48 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
9 7.9

A person who secretly controls other people and their actions

master sergeant
  • Specialized
7 6.0

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

6 4.2

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

old master
  • Specialized
6 8.4

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

5 5.3

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

4 3.4

A key that opens many different locks in a building

4 9.9

A belief that one race is better and should rule others

master-at-arms
  • Specialized
3 8.4

A navy officer who keeps order and discipline on a ship

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

Jedi Master
  • Literature
2 7.9

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

master file
  • Specialized
1 4.2

The main computer record that holds original data for reference

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

1 5.3

A person who teaches formal dances like ballet and the waltz

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

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

1 6.7

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

puppet master
  • Specialized
1 7.7

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

1 6.8

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

dancing-master
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A person who teaches dancing for formal or social events

1 7.7

A soldier who trains new soldiers in marching and discipline

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

1 4.0

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

master cylinder
  • Specialized
1 4.6

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

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

1 9.6

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

sailing master
  • Archaic
1 9.9

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

1 6.9

A person very skilled at something after many years of practice

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

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

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

A university degree about government policy and running public services

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

A degree you study for after university in literature

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

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

master key
  • Specialized
4.2

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

5.6

An advanced degree from university that lets you become an architect

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

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

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

7.0

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

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

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

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

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

6.7

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

How Authoritative

ruler
153 2.1
master
3.7
boss
1.0
manager
1.6
supervisor
346 2.8
subordinate
38 4.6

Surface Forms

master singular
masters plural

Etymology

Master comes from the Latin magister, which meant 'person in charge' or 'chief' and is related to the English major ('greater'). That's why a master can mean someone who has authority or control over a group or place.