mason

¹

[ mey-suhn ]

noun

1. a person whose trade is building with units of various natural or artificial mineral products, as stones, bricks, cinder blocks, or tiles, usually with the use of mortar or cement as a bonding agent.
2. a person who dresses stones or bricks.
3. (initial capital letter) a Freemason.

verb (used with object)

1. to construct of or strengthen with masonry.

Mason

²

[ mey-suhn ]

noun

1. Bobbie Ann, born 1940, U.S. short-story writer and novelist.
2. Charles, 1730–87, English astronomer and surveyor. Mason-Dixon line.
3. George, 1725–92, American statesman.
4. Lowell, 1792–1872, U.S. hymnist and educator.
5. Dame Sandra Prunella, born 1949, Barbadian politician: 1st president of Barbados since 2021.
6. a male given name.

mason

¹

/ ˈmeɪsən /

noun

1. a person skilled in building with stone
2. a person who dresses stone

verb

1. tr to construct or strengthen with masonry

Mason

²

/ ˈmeɪsən /

noun

1. short for Freemason

Other Words From

• non·mason noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mason¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English machun, mason, from Old French machun, masson, from Frankish makjon (unrecorded) “maker,” derivative of makōn “to make”; make ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mason¹

C13: from Old French masson, of Frankish origin; perhaps related to Old English macian to make

Example Sentences

Gravestones are looked after privately, rather than by the city council itself, with families usually hiring a stone mason to work on them.

From BBC

The first firefighters were recruited from tradesmen including slaters, carpenters and masons, aged 17 to 25, because they knew how buildings were constructed.

From BBC

Members of the Hollywood Basic Crafts — a coalition of labor unions advocating for drivers, electricians, location managers, plumbers, mechanics, cement masons and other industry tradespeople — are still in contract talks with the AMPTP.

From Los Angeles Times

He is a cement mason whose drug and alcohol use eventually landed him in a tent in “The Jungle,” the infamous Seattle homeless encampment on the western slope of Beacon Hill above I-5.

From Seattle Times

I started watching for them: mason bees, sweat bees, leaf cutter bees, and my favorite, bumblebees.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• architect
• artisan
• contractor
• inventor
• maker
• manufacturer
• producer