opus
Americannoun
plural
opuses, opera-
a musical composition.
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one of the compositions of a composer, usually numbered according to the order of publication.
-
a literary work or composition, as a book: op.
Have you read her latest opus?
noun
-
an artistic composition, esp a musical work
-
(often capital) (usually followed by a number) a musical composition by a particular composer, generally catalogued in order of publication
Beethoven's opus 61 is his violin concerto
Etymology
Origin of opus
1695–1705; < Latin: work, labor, a work
Explanation
An opus is a created work, usually musical in nature. The composer's greatest opus was inspired by the blooming of the spring flowers. While an opus is a piece of work, usually musical, the best way to remember it is to know that the preferred plural of opus is opera which everyone associates with music. You can also say opuses for the plural if you want, but how is that going to help you remember anything? A common usage of opus is with the term magnum opus which refers to one’s greatest work, musical or otherwise.
Vocabulary lists containing opus
100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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Music - Middle School
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Music - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That’s the backdrop for Wall Street giant Citi’s 165-page opus on the global commodities outlook, written by strategists led by Maximilian Layton.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026
“On the Calculation of Volume,” Danish author Solvej Balle’s seven-volume opus, follows an antiquarian bookseller who gets stuck reliving the same mid-November day over and over again.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025
Danielewski has confounded and thrilled readers with his gargantuan, hard-to-categorize novels, most notably 2000’s “House of Leaves” and the five-volume opus “The Familiar.”
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2025
Consumers’ Research, the Supreme Court reversed an opinion that Oldham presented as something of a magnum opus.
From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025
“Ah, yes, Deathstorm. The new opus from Mr. G. M. Pennington. Aren’t you lucky I don’t sell books by weight?”
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
