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Definition of master verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

master

verb
 
/ˈmɑːstə(r)/
 
/ˈmæstər/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they master
 
/ˈmɑːstə(r)/
 
/ˈmæstər/
he / she / it masters
 
/ˈmɑːstəz/
 
/ˈmæstərz/
past simple mastered
 
/ˈmɑːstəd/
 
/ˈmæstərd/
past participle mastered
 
/ˈmɑːstəd/
 
/ˈmæstərd/
-ing form mastering
 
/ˈmɑːstərɪŋ/
 
/ˈmæstərɪŋ/
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    learn/understand

  1. master something to learn or understand something completely
    • She never completely mastered the art of lip-reading.
    • to master new skills/techniques
    • French was a language he had never mastered.
    • They quickly mastered new technologies.
    Extra Examples
    • Once you've mastered the basics, you can begin to experiment a little.
    • The controls are pretty hard to master.
    Topics Languageb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • fully
    • thoroughly
    verb + master
    • be difficult to
    • struggle to
    • try to
    phrases
    • master the art of something
    • master the basics
    See full entry
  2. control

  3. master something to manage to control an emotion
    • She struggled hard to master her temper.
    • Simon was unable to master his impatience.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • fully
    • thoroughly
    verb + master
    • be difficult to
    • struggle to
    • try to
    phrases
    • master the art of something
    • master the basics
    See full entry
  4. master something/somebody to gain control of an animal or a person
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • fully
    • thoroughly
    verb + master
    • be difficult to
    • struggle to
    • try to
    phrases
    • master the art of something
    • master the basics
    See full entry
  5. Word OriginOld English mæg(i)ster (later reinforced by Old French maistre), from Latin magister; probably related to magis ‘more’.
See master in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee master in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
previously
adverb
 
 
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