noun Uncommon

mast

mahst

Mast (noun) means a tall upright pole that supports sails, an antenna, or other equipment. Example: “The sailors climbed the mast to untangle the rigging.”

noun

A tall upright pole that supports sails, an antenna, or other equipment.

"The sailors climbed the mast to untangle the rigging."

"A radio mast towered over the hillside."

Nuts such as acorns and beechnuts that have fallen and are used to feed animals like pigs.

"Pigs were once turned loose in the forest to fatten on mast."

verb

To fit a ship with a mast.

"The old fishing boat was re-masted before its next voyage."

How to use mast

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often the tall pole on a ship or the pole holding up an antenna or flag.

Common pairings

ship's mast radio mast raise the mast

Word forms

masted past tense, masted past tense, masts plural, masts plural, masts plural, masts singular, masts singular

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The sailors climbed the _____ to untangle the rigging.

Etymology

From Old English mæst, going back to a Proto-Germanic and ultimately Proto-Indo-European root meaning "pole" — related to German Mast and Dutch mast.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for mast

Ast last cast fast vast past bast Hast blast

See all rhymes for mast →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mast” mean?

The word “mast” means a tall upright pole that supports sails, an antenna, or other equipment. In plain terms, most often the tall pole on a ship or the pole holding up an antenna or flag.

How do you pronounce “mast”?

“Mast” is pronounced mahst (/mæst/ in IPA).

How do you use “mast” in a sentence?

Here is “mast” used in a sentence: “The sailors climbed the mast to untangle the rigging.”

What part of speech is “mast”?

Depending on how it is used, “mast” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “mast” come from?

The word “mast” comes from Old English. From Old English mæst, going back to a Proto-Germanic and ultimately Proto-Indo-European root meaning "pole" — related to German Mast and Dutch mast.

Is “mast” a common word?

“Mast” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “mast” have?

“Mast” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tall upright pole that supports sails, an antenna, or other equipment.