,mass pro'duction n [U] the making of large numbers of the same article by a fixed method
mass 'transit n [U] tech methods of transport by which large numbers of people can travel around a city: The city has virtually no mass transit.
mast /mɑːstˈmæst/ n 1 a long upright pole of wood or metal for carrying sails or flags on a ship → compare SPAR $ ^{1} $ 2 an upright metal framework for radio and television AERIALS 3 a flagpole → see also HALF-MAST 4 before the mast lit on a sailing ship as an ordinary seaman, not as an officer
mas·tec·to·my /mæ'stektəm/ n med an operation for the removal of a breast, usually when breast CANCER has been discovered → compare LUMPECTOMY
master¹ /'mɑːstər/ |'mæs-/ n | 1 a man in control of people, animals, or things: The slaves rebelled against their masters. | His wife and children are always being rude to him and ordering him about. He's not even master in his own house. | (fig.) He prefers freelance work because he enjoys being his own master. (=being independent) 2 BrE mistress fem. — a male teacher: the maths master → compare MISTRESS; see also HEADMASTER 3 a man who commands a ship carrying goods or passengers, or a large fishing boat 4 a man who has great skill in art or in working with his hands: a master craftsman | The painting is the work of a master/done by a master hand. → see also GRAND MASTER, OLD MASTER, PAST MASTER 5 something from which copies are made: a master tape | You've left your master (copy) in the photocopier. 6 (usually cap.) especially BrE the head of certain university colleges: the Master of King's College, Cambridge
master² adj [A no comp.] 1 tech or apprec having a lot of skill as a result of long experience: a master carpenter | a master chef 2 chief; most important: the master bedroom
master $ ^{3} $ v [T] 1 to learn thoroughly or gain a lot of skill in: It takes years to master a new language. | He has never mastered the art of public speaking. 2 to fight against (a bad feeling) so as not to be controlled by it: He tried hard to master his fear of heights.
Master n [C] 1 old-fashion a way of addressing or referring to young boys: How's young Master Toby today? 2 a religious leader in some religions: a Sufi Master 3 the person who is in charge of some British university colleges: the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge
master-at-arms n pl. masters-at-arms an officer with police duties on a ship
'master card n a specially good reason, piece of knowledge etc which will have more effect than anything else: At the climax of the meeting the chairman played his master card and announced that he had bought the company.
MasterCard /'mɑːstɪkə:d/ˈmæstərkɑ:rd/ trademark 1 a large international CREDIT CARD system operated by a group of banks 2 a credit card belonging to the MasterCard system, used for obtaining goods and services which the user pays for later: Do you take MasterCard?
mas·ter·ful /'ma:stəfəll'mæstər-/ adj apprec especially lit (of people or behaviour) showing full control, understanding etc of people and situations: The heroes of romantic fiction are supposed to be strong and masterful. → compare MASTERLY ︷ly adv
'master key n a key that will open several different locks
mas·ter·ly /'maːstəll/ mesterli/ adj aprec done or acting with very great skill: a masterly summing-up of the situation → compare MASTERFUL —-liness n [U]
mas·ter·mind¹ /'ma:stəmaɪndl'mæstər-/ n a very clever person, especially one who is responsible for a plan: the mastermind behind the robbery
mastermind² v [T] infml to plan (an important or difficult course of action) cleverly: to mastermind a crime
Mastermind a popular British television QUIZ programme, in which people compete to see who can give the most correct answers in a fixed amount of time. The programme is known for the large black leather chair that each person sits in to answer their questions. If someone does not know the answer to a question, they say 'Pass' and the PRESENTER (1972-97 Magnus Magnusson, John Humphreys 2004-) then asks the next question. If the time for a person's questions finishes while the Presenter is in the middle of a question, he says 'I've started so I'll finish', and then continues with the question. People use both these expressions in a humorous way.
Master of 'Arts n an MA
Master of 'Business Administration n an MBA
master of 'ceremonies abbrev. MC \parallel also emcee AmE — n pl. masters of ceremonies (often caps.) a person whose duty is to see that formal social occasions are carried out properly, to introduce speakers etc
Master of 'Foxhounds n the person who is in charge of a HUNT in the sport of FOXHUNTING
Master of 'Science n an MSc
Master of the 'Rolls the most important judge in the COURT OF APPEAL in England and Wales. Part of his job is to choose the judges who judge cases in this court.
mas·ter·piece /'ma:stəpi:sˈmæstər-/ n a piece of work, especially art, done with extreme skill, which is the best of its type or one of the best that a particular person has done: The 'Mona Lisa' was Leonardo's masterpiece.
'master plan n a plan for controlling everything which happens in a complicated situation
'master race n a race of people who believe that they are better than all other races and therefore have the right to control them. HITLER and the NAZIs believed that the ARYANS or Germans were the master race.
master's /'mɑːstəzɪlˈmæstərz/ n infml (often cap.) a degree of MA, MSC etc: He's planning on doing a master's in English literature.
Masters and 'Johnson two American scientists, William Howell Masters (1915–2001) and Virginia Eshelman Johnson (1925–), who studied human sexual behaviour, and wrote several books on the subject, including Human Sexual Response (1966).
'Masters 'Tournament, the also US Masters Tournament, US Masters a GOLF competition held once each year in the US
mas-ter-stroke /'ma:ststrəuk\|'mæstər-/ n a very skilful action or plan which results in complete success
'master switch n a switch (SWITCH) that controls all the other switches in an electrical CIRCUIT: He threw the master switch and every light in the building went out.
master-work /'ma:stəw3:kɪl'mæstərw3:rk/ n a MASTER-
PIECE especially one completed after long effort
mas·ter·y /'ma:sterɪlˈmæs-/ n [U(over, of)] 1 full power to control or defeat something: mastery over/of his fear 2 great skill or knowledge in a particular subject or activity: He shows complete mastery of his chosen subject.
mast·head /'maːsthedɪlˈmæst-/ n 1 the top of a ship's MAST 2 the name of a newspaper, magazine etc often with the names of its owner, writers etc when printed at the top of the first page
mas·ti·cate /'mæstɪkeɪt/ v [l;T] fml to crush (food) thoroughly with the teeth; CHEW——cation /,mæstɪkeɪʃən/ n [U]
mas·tiff /'mæstʃf/ n a large powerful dog, often used to guard houses
mas·ti·tis /mæ'stɑːts/ n [U] med INFLAMMATION (swelling) of the breast
mas-to-don /'mæstədənl-də:n/ n'a large animal like an elephant, which no longer exists
mas-toid /'mæstɔɪd/ n tech a small bone behind the ear
Mas·troi·an·ni, Mar·cel·lo /,maestro'ja·ni, ma't'selou'ma:r-/ (1924-97) one of the greatest Italian film actors, famous especially for the film La Dolce Vita (1960)
mas·tur·bate /'mæstәbeit\|-ər-/. v [|] to excite one's own sex organs by handling, rubbing etc —-bation /,mæstə'beifən\|-ər-/ n [U]
$ mat^{1}/mat/n $ 1 a piece of rough strong material for covering part of a floor; small RUG → see also DOORMAT 2 a small piece of material for putting under objects on a table; TABLE-MAT: Put the hot dish down on the mat, so you don't burn the table.
$ mat^{2} $ adj not shiny; MATT  $ \rightarrow $ compare GLOSS $ ^{1} $