From master + mind.

• (British) IPA: /ˈmɑː.stə.mʌɪnd/
• (America) IPA: /ˈmæs.tɚˌmaɪnd/

mastermind (plural masterminds)

1. A person with an extraordinary intellect or skill that is markedly superior to his or her peers.
   • 1840, Edgar Allan Poe, The Colloquy of Monos and Una:

     At long intervals some master-minds appeared, looking upon each advance in practical science as a retro-gradation in the true utility.

2. A person responsible for the highest level of planning and execution of a major operation.

• French: cerveau, tête
• German: Superhirn
• Spanish: mente maestra

• French: cerveau
• German: Drahtzieher, Mastermind
• Russian: руководи́тель
• Spanish: cerebro, mente maestra

mastermind (masterminds, present participle masterminding; simple past and past participle masterminded)

1. To act in the role of mastermind.

• French: organiser, diriger
• Italian: orchestrare, architettare
• Russian: руководи́ть