1. Someone who has control over another or others: The master of the large tobacco plantation was not liked by his employees.
2. The owner, or keeper, of an animal; in the past, the owner of a slave or slaves: Tom, the master of his dog, taught it to sit on his command.
3. Anyone who has control over, or ownership, of something: The master of a big cotton plantation kept many slaves to do the work before the Civil War took place.
4. The captain of a merchant ship; a "master mariner": Jim was the master of the large cargo ship heading for a foreign country.
5. The man who serves as the head of a household: It used to be that that the husband of a family living in a house was called the master!
6. Someone who defeats another; a victo: After winning many games at chess, Mr. Big was described as being the master at chess!
7. A male teacher or tutor In early America, it used to be that a schoolteacher was called a master, like a schoolmaster or schoolmistress.
8. An artist or performer of great and exemplary skill: Finally the concertmaster and the conductor came on to the stage and the whole audience clapped loudly before the concert began.
9. A worker qualified to teach apprentices and carry on a skill, or craft, on their own: The cabinetmaker, or master of Jim, the trainee, could make wonderful chairs and tables.
10. An expert at something: There can be a master of three languages.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle could be called a master of crime fiction.
11. The first form of something used for making an imitation or for copying: An example of a master can be an original document or audio recording from which copies can be made.
12. Etymology: from Old English mægester, "someone having control or authority"; from Latin magister, "chief, head, director, teacher"; influenced in Middle English by Old French maistre; from Latin magister, from magis, "more", from magnus, "great".