masterpiece

American  

[mas-ter-pees, mah-ster-] / ˈmæs tərˌpis, ˈmɑ stər- /

noun

1. a person's greatest piece of work, as in an art.

2. anything done with masterly skill.

   a masterpiece of improvisation.

3. a consummate example of skill or excellence of any kind.

   The chef 's cake was a masterpiece.

4. a piece made by a person aspiring to the rank of master in a guild or other craft organization as a proof of competence.

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masterpiece British  

/ ˈmɑːstəˌpiːs, ˈmɑːstəˌwɜːk /

noun

1. an outstanding work, achievement, or performance

2. the most outstanding piece of work of a creative artist, craftsman, etc

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Etymology

Origin of masterpiece

1570–80; master + piece, modeled on Dutch meesterstuk, German Meisterstück

Example Sentences

In the best tradition of country music, his 1995 masterpiece is the proverbial three chords and the truth.

From The Wall Street Journal

The room containing Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece was not damaged.

From Barron's

Entirely hand drawn, the film was hailed as a visual masterpiece marking Miyazaki's return to the traditional animation of his early career, after incorporating computer generated images in "Spirited Away" and "Howl's Moving Castle."

From Barron's

But what he really wants is the katana recognised not as an antiquity but as a "masterpiece" of contemporary art.

From Barron's

Then, on the biggest stage, it delivered its masterpiece by exploiting New England’s greatest weakness.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• classic
• gem
• jewel
• monument
• treasure