Toastmaster

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who presides over formal social gatherings or ceremonies, introducing speakers and ensuring the event proceeds smoothly ; someone skilled in public speaking and hosting duties, often leading toasts or speeches
2. An individual responsible for conducting events, presenting guests, and maintaining the flow of proceedings at celebrations or meetings ; a leader or organizer of formal occasions who facilitates introductions and encourages participation
3. One who officiates at social functions by managing the program, calling on speakers, and delivering or prompting ceremonial toasts ; a master of ceremonies skilled at guiding and entertaining an audience during formal events

Etymology: The "toast" in "toastmaster" is not the bread. It comes from the old custom of drinking to someone's health, where a spiced piece of toasted bread was sometimes dropped into the wine, and the name for that flavoured drink gradually came to stand for the person being honoured. A toastmaster is therefore, at root, the master of that drinking ceremony: the one who calls for the toasts and keeps the company in order while they are given. The word is a straightforward compound, formed from "toast" and "master" in English. Its plain sense is clear from the two parts, and the role it names grew naturally out of the convivial dinners of the period in which it was formed.

Synonyms: host, emcee, master of ceremonies, chairperson, moderator