-n. 2. conceiver, contriver, mind, intellect, genius, SI. brains, Inf. think tank; deviser, framer, forger, planner, designer, architect; instigator, instigant, inciter, provoker; originator, initiator, founder, father, founding father, institutor, establisher; creator, author, producer, maker, generator, builder; executor, prime mover, pusher, engineer, orchestrator, manager, executive, director, guide, leader, master.
masterpiece, n. masterwork, chef-d'oeuvre, magnum opus, work of art, creation.
master stroke, n. stroke of genius, tour de force, Fr. coup de maitre, coup; (all of a highly successful nature) stroke, move, maneuver, act, action, deed, feat, exploit, stunt; triumph, victory, complete success, Inf. ten-strike, hit, Inf. smash.
mastery, n. 1. control, domination, upper hand, whip hand; government, order, rule, sway; jurisdiction, authority, power, influence; sovereignty, hegemony, preeminence, leadership, headship, mastership.
2. command, management, handling, direction; grasp, hold, comprehension, understanding, knowledge, cognizance; discernment, perception, apprehension; acquisition, acquirement, achievement, attainment, accomplishment.
3. conquest, ascendency, supremacy, superiority, victory over, victoriousness, triumphancy, triumph, win, success, Chiefly Scot. gree; vanquishment, defeat of, subjugation.
4. expertise, expertness, masterliness, masterfulness, master hand, virtuosity; proficiency, adeptness, address, finesse, finish, polish; facility, felicity; skillfulness, skill, dexterity, dexterousness, adroitness, deftness.
masticate, v. 1. chew, crunch, craunch, munch, champ, mumble, gnaw, nibble, bite, Dial, chaw, Archaic. manducate; chew well, Fletcherize; ruminate, remasticate, rechew, chew the cud.
2. pulverize, comminute, triturate, levigate, powder, granulate, break down, liquefy; grind, bray, pestle, kibble, mill; crush, knead, mash, smash, Si. smush, pound, beat; crumble, disintegrate, shatter.
mastication, n. 1. chewing, crunching, crunching, munching, champing, mumbling, Fletcherism, Fletcherizing, gnawing, nibbling, biting, Dial, chawing, Both Archaic, manducation, manducating; rumination, remastication.
2. pulverization, pulverizing, comminution, comminuting, trituration, triturating, levigation, levigating, powdering, granulating, granulation; grinding, braying, pestling, kibbling, milling; crushing, mashing, kneading, smashing, SI. smushing, pounding, beating; crumbling, disintegration, disintegrating, shattering.
masturbation, n. self-gratification, self-manipulation, autoeroticism, manustupration, onanism; selfabuse, self-defilement, SI. playing with oneself.
mat1, n. 1. throw-rug, rug, floor-cover, drugget, doormat, welcome mat; dropcloth, oilcloth, matting.
2. canvas, pad, floor, ground; ring, wrestling ring.
3. mass, tangle, knot, mesh; thatch, crop, mop, shag, mane, shock.
-v. 4. interweave, intertwine, entwine, entangle, ravel, dishevel; interlace, lace, enlace, net; plait, braid, plat, twill, felt; interknit, knit, wreathe, twist, loop, pleach.
mat2, adj. 1. lusterless, dull, drab, flat, dead; lackluster, cloudy, gray, leaden; dingy, faded, discolored, washed out, dimmed.
-n. 2. dullness, flatness, drabness, deadness; lusterlessness, lackluster, cloudiness, grayness.
