masterpiece
UK /ˈmɑːstəˌpiːs/ · US /ˈmæstɚˌpis/ noun
Forms masterpieces master-piece
- noun A piece of work that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career.
- noun A work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship. “Masterpieces are not completed, they are abandoned.”
- noun A work created in order to qualify as a master craftsman and member of a guild.
Synonyms
chef d'œuvre magnum opus masterwork pièce de résistance work of art chef-d'oeuvre
Antonyms
Etymology
From master + piece, a calque of Dutch meesterstuk or German Meisterstück (“masterpiece”). Piecewise doublet of maestropiece and masterstick. Compare also journeyman's piece.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Anything done or made with extraordinary skill; a capital performance; a chef-d'oeuvre; a supreme achievement.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “masterpiece”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details