masterpiece

[ mas-ter-pees, mah-ster- ]

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.

masterpiece

/ ˈmɑːstəˌpiːs; ˈmɑːstəˌwɜːk /

noun

1. an outstanding work, achievement, or performance
2. the most outstanding piece of work of a creative artist, craftsman, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of masterpiece¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of masterpiece¹

C17: compare Dutch meesterstuk, German Meisterstück, a sample of work submitted to a guild by a craftsman in order to qualify for the rank of master

Example Sentences

David Rooney, author of About Time: A History Of Civilisation in Twelve Clocks, described the item as "the world's most famed watch" and "a true masterpiece".

From BBC

But the fight was far from a pugilistic masterpiece.

From Los Angeles Times

Often the sequel is never as good, and while the standard of the first fight would have taken some beating, Taylor and Serrano delivered another masterpiece.

From BBC

The largest restoration of Rembrandt's masterpiece, The Night Watch, is under way at the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam.

From BBC

On his website, Bal described himself as a designer who "combines the right mix of history, folklore, village craft, and dying arts to create imaginative and innovative masterpieces for catwalks and fashion talks".

From BBC

Related Words

• classic
• gem
• jewel
• monument
• treasure