<B>mass spectrometer,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an apparatus similar to the mass spectrograph except that its results are recorded electrically. </DL>
<A NAME="massspectrometric">
<B>mass-spectrometric, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with a mass spectrometer or with mass spectrometry. </DL>
<A NAME="massspectrometry">
<B>mass spectrometry,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> study with or use of the mass spectrometer. </DL>
<A NAME="massspectroscope">
<B>mass spectroscope,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of various devices utilizing magnetic fields, electric fields, or both, and used especially for separating, weighing indirectly, and studying isotopes, and atomic particles. The mass spectrograph and the mass spectrometer are two types of mass spectroscopes. <BR> <I>Ex. In the simplest mass spectroscope, electrons bombard a gas at low pressure (Alfred O. Nier).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="massspectroscopy">
<B>mass spectroscopy,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> study with or use of a mass spectroscope. </DL>
<A NAME="massspectrum">
<B>mass spectrum,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the band of charged particles of different masses formed when a beam of ions is passed through the deflecting fields of a mass spectrograph or a mass spectrometer. </DL>
<A NAME="massy">
<B>massy, </B>adjective, <B>massier,</B> <B>massiest.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>bulky and heavy; massive. <BR> <I>Ex. We closed all the massy shutters of our old building (Edgar Allan Poe).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) great; impressive. <DD><B> 3. </B>solid, rather than hollow or plated, as metal. </DL>
<A NAME="mast">
<B>mast</B> (1), noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a long pole of wood or metal set upright on a ship or boat to support the sails and rigging. (SYN) spar. <DD><B> 2. </B>any tall, upright pole. <BR> <I>Ex. the mast of a derrick.</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to equip or rig with a mast or masts. <BR><I>expr. <B>abaft the mast,</B> </I>(British.) in a position of authority. <BR> <I>Ex. He was not satisfied unless he was abaft the mast.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>before the mast,</B> <DD><B> a. </B>serving as a common sailor, because such sailors used to sleep in the forward part of a ship. </I> <I>Ex. He sailed for two years before the mast.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>in front of the foremast; in the forecastle. <BR> <I>Ex. Common sailors used to be berthed before the mast.</I> adj. <B>mastless.</B> adj. <B>mastlike.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="mast">
<B>mast</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> acorns, chestnuts, beechnuts, and other tree fruits on the ground; the fruit of certain forest trees, especially as food for swine. <BR> <I>Ex. Pigs eat mast.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mastaba">
<B>mastaba</B> or <B>mastabah, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> an ancient Egyptian tomb set over a mummy chamber burrowed in rock. It was rectangular with a flat top and sides sloping outward to the base. </DL>
<A NAME="mastcell">
<B>mast cell,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a large cell in connective tissue that has a very granular cytoplasm. Under certain conditions it releases histamine and an anticoagulant, heparin. </DL>
<A NAME="mastectomy">
<B>mastectomy, </B>noun, pl. <B>-mies.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the surgical removal of a woman's breast, as when cancerous. </DL>
<A NAME="masted">
<B>-masted,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (combining form.) having a ______ mast or masts. <BR> <I>Ex. A three-masted ship = a ship having three masts.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="master">
<B>master, </B>noun, adjective, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a person who has power or authority over others, such as the head of a household, a school, or a ship; one in control; owner, employer, or director. (SYN) chief, ruler, commander. <DD><B> 2. </B>a person who has the power to control, use, or dispose of something at will. <BR> <I>Ex. to be master of a situation. He ... was a perfect master of both languages (Jonathan Swift).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a male teacher, especially in private schools. <BR> <I>Ex. The village master taught his little school (Oliver Goldsmith).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>an artist, musician, or author of the highest rank. <DD><B> 5. </B>a picture, painting, or sculpture by a great artist. <BR> <I>Ex. an old master.</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>a person who knows all there is to know about his work; expert, such as a great artist or skilled workman. <BR> <I>Ex. a master of the violin.</I> <DD><B> 7. </B>a skilled worker, qualified to teach apprentices; craftsman in business for himself. <DD><B> 8a. </B>a title of respect for a boy. <BR> <I>Ex. First prize goes to Master Henry Adams.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>a young gentleman; boy. <DD><B> 9. </B>Also, <B>Master.</B> <DD><B> a. </B>a person who has taken a degree above bachelor and below doctor at a college or university. <DD><B> b. </B><B>=Master of Arts.</B> <DD><B> c. </B><B>=Master of Science.</B> <DD><B> 10. </B>a person who overcomes another; victor. <BR> <I>Ex. They have marched from far away ... And the morning saw them masters of Cremona (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).</I> <DD><B> 11. </B>an owner of a slave or a horse or dog. <DD><B> 12. </B>(in general) an owner; possessor. <BR> <I>Ex. ... those qualities of the mind he was master of (Jonathan Swift).</I> <DD><B> 13. </B>a court officer appointed to assist the judge. <DD><B> 14. </B>(in Scotland) the title of the heir apparent to a rank of the peerage lower than earl. <DD><B> 15. </B>a rank of excellence in contract bridge tournament play. <BR> <I>Ex. ... contests for individuals, pairs and teams, in both masters' and nonmasters' classifications (New York Times).</I> <DD><B> 16. </B>a high-quality initial copy or original, as of a recording or tape, used as a source for duplications. <BR> <I>Ex. to make thousands of CD's from a master, to prepare masters of the semester exams.</I> <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>being master of; of a master; by a master. <BR> <I>Ex. O let me be the tune-swept fiddlestring That feels the Master Melody (John G. Neihardt).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>main. <BR> <I>Ex. the master bedroom of a house.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>qualified to teach apprentices and carry on his trade independently; highly skilled. <BR> <I>Ex. a master printer.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>controlling or standardizing the operation of other mechanisms or parts. <BR> <I>Ex. a master plan, a master switch.</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>serving as the source for duplication. <BR> <I>Ex. a master tape, a master test.</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to become the master of; conquer; control. <BR> <I>Ex. She learned to master her anger.</I> (SYN) overcome, subjugate, subdue. <DD><B> 2. </B>to become expert in; become skillful at; learn. <BR> <I>Ex. He has mastered riding his bicycle. He mastered whatever was not worth the knowing (James Russell Lowell).</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>to rule or direct as a master. <DD><B> 4. </B>to record on a master (def. 16) tape or disk. <BR><I>expr. <B></B>(<B>the</B>) <B>Master,</B> </I>Jesus Christ. <BR> <I>Ex. Closer drew the twelve disciples to their Master's side (Nathaniel P. Willis).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>the Masters,</B> </I>a golf tournament held annually at Augusta, Georgia, for the top professional and amateur players. <BR> <I>Ex. Between 1963 and 1973 Jack Nicklaus won the Masters four times.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="masteratarms">
<B>master-at-arms, </B>noun, pl. <B>masters-at-arms.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a petty officer on a ship who keeps order and takes charge of prisoners. The rating survives in the Royal Navy, and has recently been reactivated in the United States Navy. </DL>
<B>masterful, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>fond of power or authority; domineering. <BR> <I>Ex. She was attracted by his masterful ways.</I> (SYN) imperious, lordly, overbearing. <DD><B> 2. </B>expert or very skillful; masterly. <BR> <I>Ex. a masterful performance.</I> adv. <B>masterfully.</B> noun <B>masterfulness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="mastergland">
<B>master gland,</B> =pituitary gland.</DL>
<A NAME="mastergunnerysergeant">
<B>master gunnery sergeant,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a noncommissioned officer in the Marine Corps, ranking above a sergeant major. </DL>
<A NAME="masterhand">
<B>master-hand, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a highly skilled craftsman; expert. <BR> <I>Ex. Chaucer was a master-hand at getting comic or satiric or emotional effects (Atlantic).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a high degree of skill or excellence; expertise. </DL>
<A NAME="masterhood">
<B>masterhood, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the condition or character of being a master. </DL>
<A NAME="masterkey">
<B>master key,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a key that opens all the different locks of a set. <DD><B> 2. </B>a key that will open many different locks of a similar type. </DL>
<A NAME="masterless">
<B>masterless, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having no master; uncontrolled or unprotected by a master. <BR> <I>Ex. Many a town must now be masterless, And women's voices rule (William Morris).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="masterliness">
<B>masterliness, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the quality or condition of being masterly. </DL>
<A NAME="masterly">
<B>masterly, </B>adjective, adverb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> expert; very skillful. <BR> <I>Ex. a masterly piece of work. Rembrandt was a masterly painter.</I> (SYN) proficient, finished, excellent. <DD><I>adv. </I> in an expert or very skillful way. </DL>
<A NAME="mastermason">
<B>master mason,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a skilled mason who can direct the work of others. <DD><B> 2. </B>Often, <B>Master Mason.</B> <DD> a fully qualified Freemason, who has passed the 3rd degree. </DL>
<A NAME="mastermechanic">
<B>master mechanic,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a skilled mechanic who can direct the work of others. </DL>
<A NAME="mastermind">
<B>mastermind, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a person who plans and supervises a scheme or operation, usually from behind the scenes or in the background. <BR> <I>Ex. Soustelle, the political mastermind of the Algiers uprising that swept DeGaulle back to power ... (Wall Street Journal).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to devise and conduct (a plan of action), usually from behind the scenes or in the background. <BR> <I>Ex. The statement gave Burgess the credit for masterminding their escape to Russia (Time).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="masterofarts">
<B>Master of Arts,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a degree given by a college or university to a person who has completed a graduate course of study in the liberal arts or humanities, or as an honor. (Abbr:) M.A. or A.M. <DD><B> 2. </B>a person who has had the degree of Master of Arts conferred upon him. </DL>
