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
1
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."
2
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
1
To fit a ship with a mast.
"The old fishing boat was re-masted before its next voyage."
How to use mast
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- masts
- Third person singular
- masts
- Past tense
- masted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Rhymes for mast
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.
