chef-d'oeuvre

[ French she-dœ-vruh ]

noun

, plural chefs-d'oeu·vre [she-, dœ, -v, r, uh].

1. a masterpiece, especially in art, literature, or music.

chef-d'oeuvre

/ ʃɛdœvrə /

noun

1. a masterpiece

Word History and Origins

Origin of chef-d'oeuvre¹

Borrowed into English from French around 1610–20

Example Sentences

It is indeed a masterpiece—a chef-d'oeuvre—beauty and expression unequaled.

From Project Gutenberg

The grisette from a certain point of view is the chef-d'oeuvre of Parisian industry; the bouquet of Parisian civilization.

From Project Gutenberg

Bertie was executing his chef d'oeuvre in the delineation of Mrs. Proudie's nose and mouth.

From Project Gutenberg

To Field's mind, it only suggested the grotesque, and his reproduction was a chef d'oeuvre, as he was wont to say.

From Project Gutenberg

Whilst I was drawing this chef d'oeuvre (and, by the way, it took an hour to do it) Ballantyne came in.

From Project Gutenberg