massive - Mastless

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massive (mȧsĭv), a. [F. massif.] 1. Forming, or consisting of, a large mass; compacted; weighty; heavy; massy. “Massive armor.” Dr. H. More.
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2. (Min.) In mass; not necessarily without a crystalline structure, but having no regular form; as, a mineral occurs massive.
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Coloq. Massive rock (Geol.), a compact crystalline rock not distinctly schistose, as granite; also, with some authors, an eruptive rock.
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Massively, adv. In a heavy mass.
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Massiveness, n. The state or quality of being massive; massiness.
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Massoola boat. See .
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Massora (?), n. Same as .
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Massoret (?), n. Same as .
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mass-produce v. t. To produce on a large scale.
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mass-produced adj. Produced in large quantity, often by automated or assembly-line techniques.
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mass spectrometer n. (Physics, Chemistry) An analytical instrument which determines the mass of molecules of a substance or fragments of its molecules. It functions by injecting ionized moecules or molecular gragments into a vacuum chamber subjected to a strong magnetic field, in which charged particles move in a curved trajectory. The mass is determined by observing the path of the molecule after being charged and accelerated in a magnetic field. The path of the ionic fragment depends on the charge, velocity, and mass. Several techniques of charging and detection are employed. The mass information is usually used to infer structure or chemical composition of the substance analyzed. Variants of mass spectrometer called high-resolution mass spectrometer permit determination of the mass of a molecule or molecular fragment with sufficient precision to unambiguously determine the atomic composition.
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mass-spectrometric adj. of or pertaining to ; determined by .
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mass spectrometry mass spectroscopy n. 1. (Physics, Chemistry) A method for identifying chemical composition of substances by use of a .
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Massy (?), a. [Compar. Massier (?); superl. Massiest.] Compacted into, or consisting of, a mass; having bulk and weight or substance; ponderous; bulky and heavy; weighty; heavy; as, a massy shield; a massy rock.
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Your swords are now too massy for your strengths,
And will not be uplifted. Shak.
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Yawning rocks in massy fragments fly. Pope.
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Mast (mȧst), n. [AS. mæst, fem.; akin to G. mast, and E. meat. See .] The fruit of the oak and beech, or other forest trees; nuts; acorns.
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Oak mast, and beech, . . . they eat. Chapman.
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Swine under an oak filling themselves with the mast. South.
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Mast, n. [AS. mæst, masc.; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. mast, Icel. mastr, and perh. to L. malus.]
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1. (Naut.) A pole, or long, strong, round piece of timber, or spar, set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the sails, yards, rigging, etc. A mast may also consist of several pieces of timber united by iron bands, or of a hollow pillar of iron or steel.
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The tallest pine
Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast
Of some great ammiral. Milton.
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☞ The most common general names of masts are foremast, mainmast, and mizzenmast, each of which may be made of separate spars.
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2. (Mach.) The vertical post of a derrick or crane.
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3. (Aëronautics) A spar or strut to which tie wires or guys are attached for stiffening purposes.
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Coloq. Afore the mast , Coloq. Before the mast . See under , and . -- Coloq. Mast coat . See under . -- Coloq. Mast hoop , one of a number of hoops attached to the fore edge of a boom sail, which slip on the mast as the sail is raised or lowered; also, one of the iron hoops used in making a made mast. See .
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Mast, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Masted; p. pr. & vb. n. Masting.] To furnish with a mast or masts; to put the masts of in position; as, to mast a ship.
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{ Mastaba (?), n. Also Mastabah }. [Ar. maçtabah a large stone bench.] 1. In Mohammedan countries, a fixed seat, common in dwellings and in public places.
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2. (Egyptology) A type of tomb, of the time of the Memphite dynasties, comprising an oblong structure with sloping sides (sometimes containing a decorated chamber, sometimes of solid masonry), and connected with a mummy chamber in the rock beneath.
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Mastax (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � mouth, jaws.] (Zoöl.) (a) The pharynx of a rotifer. It usually contains four horny pieces. The two central ones form the incus, against which the mallei, or lateral ones, work so as to crush the food. (b) The lore of a bird.
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Masted (?), a. Furnished with a mast or masts; -- chiefly in composition; as, a three-masted schooner.
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Master (?), n. (Naut.) A vessel having (so many) masts; -- used only in compounds; as, a two-master.
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Master (mȧstẽr), n. [OE. maistre, maister, OF. maistre, mestre, F. maître, fr. L. magister, orig. a double comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Gr. megas. Cf. , , , , , , , .] 1. A male person having another living being so far subject to his will, that he can, in the main, control his or its actions; -- formerly used with much more extensive application than now. (a) The employer of a servant. (b) The owner of a slave. (c) The person to whom an apprentice is articled. (d) A sovereign, prince, or feudal noble; a chief, or one exercising similar authority. (e) The head of a household. (f) The male head of a school or college. (g) A male teacher. (h) The director of a number of persons performing a ceremony or sharing a feast. (i) The owner of a docile brute, -- especially a dog or horse. (j) The controller of a familiar spirit or other supernatural being.
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2. One who uses, or controls at will, anything inanimate; as, to be master of one's time. Shak.
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Master of a hundred thousand drachms. Addison.
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We are masters of the sea. Jowett (Thucyd.).
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3. One who has attained great skill in the use or application of anything; as, a master of oratorical art.
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Great masters of ridicule. Macaulay.
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No care is taken to improve young men in their own language, that they may thoroughly understand and be masters of it. Locke.
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4. A title given by courtesy, now commonly pronounced mĭster, except when given to boys; -- sometimes written Mister, but usually abbreviated to Mr.
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5. A young gentleman; a lad, or small boy.
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Where there are little masters and misses in a house, they are impediments to the diversions of the servants. Swift.
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6. (Naut.) The commander of a merchant vessel; -- usually called captain. Also, a commissioned officer in the navy ranking next above ensign and below lieutenant; formerly, an officer on a man-of-war who had immediate charge, under the commander, of sailing the vessel.
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7. A person holding an office of authority among the Freemasons, esp. the presiding officer; also, a person holding a similar office in other civic societies.
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Coloq. Little masters , certain German engravers of the 16th century, so called from the extreme smallness of their prints. -- Coloq. Master in chancery , an officer of courts of equity, who acts as an assistant to the chancellor or judge, by inquiring into various matters referred to him, and reporting thereon to the court. -- Coloq. Master of arts , one who takes the second degree at a university; also, the degree or title itself, indicated by the abbreviation M. A., or A. M. -- Coloq. Master of the horse , the third great officer in the British court, having the management of the royal stables, etc. In ceremonial cavalcades he rides next to the sovereign. -- Coloq. Master of the rolls , in England, an officer who has charge of the rolls and patents that pass the great seal, and of the records of the chancery, and acts as assistant judge of the court. Bouvier. Wharton. -- Coloq. Past master , (a) one who has held the office of master in a lodge of Freemasons or in a society similarly organized. (b) a person who is unusually expert, skilled, or experienced in some art, technique, or profession; -- usually used with at or of. -- Coloq. The old masters , distinguished painters who preceded modern painters; especially, the celebrated painters of the 16th and 17th centuries. -- Coloq. To be master of one's self , to have entire self-control; not to be governed by passion. -- Coloq. To be one's own master , to be at liberty to act as one chooses without dictation from anybody.
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☞ Master, signifying chief, principal, masterly, superior, thoroughly skilled, etc., is often used adjectively or in compounds; as, master builder or master-builder, master chord or master-chord, master mason or master-mason, master workman or master-workman, master mechanic, master mind, master spirit, master passion, etc.
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Throughout the city by the master gate. Chaucer.
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Coloq. Master joint (Geol.), a quarryman's term for the more prominent and extended joints traversing a rock mass. -- Coloq. Master key , a key adapted to open several locks differing somewhat from each other; figuratively, a rule or principle of general application in solving difficulties. -- Coloq. Master lode (Mining), the principal vein of ore. -- Coloq. Master mariner , an experienced and skilled seaman who is certified to be competent to command a merchant vessel. -- Coloq. Master sinew (Far.), a large sinew that surrounds the hough of a horse, and divides it from the bone by a hollow place, where the windgalls are usually seated. -- Coloq. Master singer . See . -- Coloq. Master stroke , a capital performance; a masterly achievement; a consummate action; as, a master stroke of policy. -- Coloq. Master tap (Mech.), a tap for forming the thread in a screw cutting die. -- Coloq. Master touch . (a) The touch or skill of a master. Pope. (b) Some part of a performance which exhibits very skillful work or treatment. “Some master touches of this admirable piece.” Tatler. -- Coloq. Master work , the most important work accomplished by a skilled person, as in architecture, literature, etc.; also, a work which shows the skill of a master; a masterpiece. -- Coloq. Master workman , a man specially skilled in any art, handicraft, or trade, or who is an overseer, foreman, or employer.
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Master (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mastered (?); p. pr. vb. n. Mastering.] 1. To become the master of; to subject to one's will, control, or authority; to conquer; to overpower; to subdue.
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Obstinacy and willful neglects must be mastered, even though it cost blows. Locke.
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2. To gain the command of, so as to understand or apply; to become an adept in; as, to master a science.
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3. To own; to posses. [Obs.]
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The wealth
That the world masters. Shak.
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Master, v. i. To be skillful; to excel. [Obs.]
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master-at-arms n. (Naut.) The senior petty officer of a ship, responsible for discipline aboard the ship.
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Masterdom (?), n. [Master + -dom.] Dominion; rule; command. [R.] Shak.
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mastered adj. Learned thoroughly.
Syn. -- down, down pat(predicate).
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Masterful (?), a. 1. Inclined to play the master; domineering; imperious; arbitrary. Dryden.
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2. Having the skill or power of a master; indicating or expressing power or mastery.
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His masterful, pale face. Mrs. Browning.
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Masterfully, adv. In a masterful manner; imperiously.
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A lawless and rebellious man who held lands masterfully and in high contempt of the royal authority. Macaulay.
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Masterhood (?), n. The state of being a master; hence, disposition to command or hector. C. Bronté.
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Masterless, a. Destitute of a master or owner; ungoverned or ungovernable. -- Masterlessness, n.
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Masterliness (?), n. The quality or state of being masterly; ability to control wisely or skillfully.
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Masterly, a. 1. Suitable to, or characteristic of, a master; indicating thorough knowledge or superior skill and power; showing a master's hand; as, a masterly design; a masterly performance; a masterly policy. “A wise and masterly inactivity.” Sir J. Mackintosh.
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2. Imperious; domineering; arbitrary.
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Masterly, adv. With the skill of a master.
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Thou dost speak masterly. Shak.
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Masterous (?), a. Masterly. [Obs.] Milton.
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Masterpiece (?), n. Anything done or made with extraordinary skill; a capital performance; a chef-d'œuvre; a supreme achievement.
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The top and masterpiece of art. South.
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Dissimulation was his masterpiece. Claredon.
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Mastership, n. 1. The state or office of a master.
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2. Mastery; dominion; superior skill; superiority.
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Where noble youths for mastership should strive. Driden.
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3. Chief work; masterpiece. [Obs.] Dryden.
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4. An ironical title of respect.
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How now, seignior Launce! what news with your mastership? Shak.
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Mastersinger (?), n. [A translation of G. meistersänger.] One of a class of poets which flourished in Nuremberg and some other cities of Germany in the 15th and 16th centuries. They bound themselves to observe certain arbitrary laws of rhythm.
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Master vibrator. In an internal-combustion engine with two or more cylinders, an induction coil and vibrator placed in the circuit between the battery or magneto and the coils for the different cylinders, which are used without vibrators of their own.
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Masterwort (?), n. (Bot.) (a) A tall and coarse European umbelliferous plant (Peucedanum Ostruthium, formerly Imperatoria). (b) The Astrantia major, a European umbelliferous plant with a showy colored involucre. (c) Improperly, the cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum).
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Mastery (?), n.; pl. Masteries (#). [OF. maistrie.]
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1. The position or authority of a master; dominion; command; supremacy; superiority.
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If divided by mountains, they will fight for the mastery of the passages of the tops. Sir W. Raleigh.
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2. Superiority in war or competition; victory; triumph; preëminence.
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The voice of them that shout for mastery. Ex. xxxii. 18.
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Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. 1 Cor. ix. 25.
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O, but to have gulled him
Had been a mastery. B. Jonson.
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3. Contest for superiority. [Obs.] Holland.
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4. A masterly operation; a feat. [Obs.]
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I will do a maistrie ere I go. Chaucer.
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5. Specifically, the philosopher's stone. [Obs.]
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6. The act process of mastering; the state of having mastered.
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He could attain to a mastery in all languages. Tillotson.
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The learning and mastery of a tongue, being unpleasant in itself, should not be cumbered with other difficulties. Locke.
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Mastful (?), a. [See 1st .] Abounding in mast; producing mast in abundance; as, the mastful forest; a mastful chestnut. Dryden.
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Masthead (?), n. (Naut.) The top or head of a mast; the part of a mast above the hounds.
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Masthead, v. t. (Naut.) To cause to go to the masthead as a punishment. Marryat.
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Masthouse (?), n. A building in which vessels' masts are shaped, fitted, etc.
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Mastic (?), n. [F., fr. L. mastiche, mastichum, Gr. �, fr. � to chew, because of its being used in the East for chewing.] [Written also mastich.]
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1. (Bot.) A low shrubby tree of the genus Pistacia (Pistacia Lentiscus), growing upon the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean, and producing a valuable resin; -- called also, mastic tree.
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2. A resin exuding from the mastic tree, and obtained by incision. The best is in yellowish white, semitransparent tears, of a faint smell, and is used as an astringent and an aromatic, also as an ingredient in varnishes.
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3. A kind of cement composed of burnt clay, litharge, and linseed oil, used for plastering walls, etc.
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Coloq. Barbary mastic (Bot.), the Pistachia Atlantica. -- Coloq. Peruvian mastic tree (Bot.), a small tree (Schinus Molle) with peppery red berries; -- called also pepper tree. -- Coloq. West Indian mastic (Bot.), a lofty tree (Bursera gummifera) full of gum resin in every part.
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Masticable (?), a. Capable of being masticated.
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Masticador (?), n. [Cf. Sp. mastigador. See .] (Man.) A part of a bridle, the slavering bit. [Written also mastigador.]
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Masticate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Masticated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Masticating (?).] [L. masticatus, p. p. of masticare to chew, prob. fr. mastiche mastic. See .] To grind or crush with, or as with, the teeth and prepare for swallowing and digestion; to chew; as, to masticate food.
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Masticater (?), n. One who masticates.
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Mastication (?), n. [L. masticatio: cf. F. mastication.] The act or operation of masticating; chewing, as of food.
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Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid aliment, without which there can be no good digestion. Arbuthnot.
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Masticator (?), n. 1. One who masticates.
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2. A machine for cutting meat into fine pieces for toothless people; also, a machine for cutting leather, India rubber, or similar tough substances, into fine pieces, in some processes of manufacture.
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Masticatory (?), a. [Cf. F. masticatoire.] Chewing; adapted to perform the office of chewing food.
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Masticatory, n.; pl. -ries (�). (Med.) A substance to be chewed to increase the saliva. Bacon.
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Mastich (?), n. See .
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Masticin (?), n. (Chem.) A white, amorphous, tenacious substance resembling caoutchouc, and obtained as an insoluble residue of mastic.
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Masticot (?), n. (Chem.) Massicot. [Obs.]
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Mastiff (?), n.; pl. Mastiffs (�). [Mastives is irregular and unusual.] [Prob. fr. Prov. E. masty, adj., large, n., a great dog, prob. fr. mast fruit, and hence, lit., fattened with mast. There is perh. confusion with OF. mestif mongrel; cf. also F. mâtin mastiff, OF. mastin.] (Zoöl.) A breed of large dogs noted for strength and courage. There are various strains, differing in form and color, and characteristic of different countries.
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Coloq. Mastiff bat (Zoöl.) , any bat of the genus Molossus; so called because the face somewhat resembles that of a mastiff.
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Mastigophora (?), prop. n. [NL., fr. Gr. mastix, mastigos, a whip + ferein to bear.] (Zoöl.) A phylum of protozoans the kingdom Protista, consisting mainly of free-living flagellated unicellular organisms, lacking photosynthetic capability. Some members are pathogenic in man.
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mastigopod (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Mastigopoda.
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Mastigopoda (?), prop. n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. mastix, mastigos, a whip + poys, podos, foot.] (Zoöl.) Formerly considered identical to the Infusoria, now distinguished from that group, which has been reordered. See .
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Mastigure (?), n. [Gr. mastix, mastigos, a scourge + � tail.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several large spiny-tailed lizards of the genus Uromastix. They inhabit Southern Asia and North Africa.
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Masting (?), n. (Naut.) The act or process of putting a mast or masts into a vessel; also, the scientific principles which determine the position of masts, and the mechanical methods of placing them.
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Coloq. Masting house (Naut.), a large building, with suitable mechanism overhanging the water, used for stepping and unstepping the masts of vessels.
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Mastitis (?), n. [Gr. mastos breast + -itis.] (Med.) Inflammation of the breast.
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Mastless (?), a. [See 1st .] Bearing no mast; as, a mastless oak or beech. Dryden.
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Mastless, a. [See 2d .] Having no mast; as, a mastless vessel.
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