masterpiece

B2 Topic:Art & Music

US /ˈmæstɚˌpis/ UK /ˈmɑːstəˌpiːs/ See IPA manual

Freq #8199

Meanings

1

noun
A work of art or skill that is outstanding and widely admired.

The painting is considered a masterpiece of the Renaissance.
2

noun
The greatest work of a person's career.

This novel is generally regarded as the writer's masterpiece.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · the greatest work of a... chef-d'oeuvre

More masterwork

Opposites

trash

Word family

Forms masterpieces

Derived forms disasterpiecetrashterpiece

Related forms genius masterworkmistresspiece

Etymology

From master + piece, a calque of Dutch meesterstuk or German Meisterstück (“masterpiece”). Piecewise doublet of maestropiece and masterstick. Compare also journeyman's piece.

Topics

Art & Music

External links

# masterpiece

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmæstɚˌpis/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmɑːstəˌpiːs/
**Frequency rank:** 8199

## Meanings
1. A work of art or skill that is outstanding and widely admired.
2. The greatest work of a person's career.

## Examples
- The painting is considered a masterpiece of the Renaissance.
- This novel is generally regarded as the writer's masterpiece.

## Synonyms
- masterwork

## Antonyms
- trash

## Derived Forms
- disasterpiece
- trashterpiece

## Related Forms
- genius
- masterwork
- mistresspiece

## Etymology
From master + piece, a calque of Dutch meesterstuk or German Meisterstück (“masterpiece”). Piecewise doublet of maestropiece and masterstick. Compare also journeyman's piece.

## AI Etymology
Masterpiece comes from master + piece, a calque of Dutch meesterstuk or German Meisterstück (“masterpiece”). Piecewise doublet of maestropiece and masterstick. Compare also journeyman's piece. In present-day English its meanings include a work of art or skill that is outstanding and widely admired and the greatest work of a person's career. Related and derived forms include genius, masterwork, mistresspiece, and disasterpiece.

## Topics
- Art & Music

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