maestro

noun

mae·​stro ˈmī-(ˌ)strō 

plural maestros or maestri ˈmī-ˌstrē 

: a master usually in an art

especially : an eminent composer, conductor, or teacher of music

Synonyms

• ace
• adept
• artist
• authority
• cognoscente
• connoisseur
• crackerjack
• crackajack
• dab [chiefly British]
• dab hand [chiefly British]
• expert
• fiend
• geek
• guru
• hand
• hotshot
• master
• maven
• mavin
• meister
• past master
• proficient
• scholar
• shark
• sharp
• virtuoso
• whiz
• wizard

Examples of maestro in a Sentence

a maestro of the violin

Recent Examples on the Web

Bard, molding an ensemble of hummers, resembles an imperious maestro. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

There were no film festivals in 1922 when German film maestro F.W. Murnau made his version, but in 1979, Werner Herzog premiered his take on Count Orlok’s nefarious designs in competition at Berlin and came away with a top prize. —Steven Gaydos, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024

Tracing the comics maestro’s life from his early years in New York City to his work cocreating iconic characters like Spider-Man and Black Panther to his time as everyone’s favorite Marvel movie cameo, Stan Lee is essential viewing for any fan. —Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2024

Handbag maestro David Cerda has been there from the beginning, ageless as ever. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, master, from Latin magister — more at master

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

maestro

noun

mae·​stro ˈmī-strō 

plural maestros or maestri -ˌstrē 

: a master of an art and especially of music

Etymology

from Italian maestro, literally "master," from Latin magister "master, one who holds a higher political office" — related to magistrate, master