masterpiece

CEFRB2

/ˈmæstɚˌpis/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A work of art or skill considered extremely good.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A work created in order to qualify as a master craftsman and member of a guild.

Examples

  • The millionaire insisted on acquiring the masterpiece no matter how much it cost.

  • The millionaire intended to purchase the masterpiece regardless of cost.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4
Synonyms
3

Also pronounced

  • /ˈmɑːstəˌpiːs/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship.

  2. A piece of work that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career.

More examples

In context

  • Masterpieces are not completed, they are abandoned.

  • “‘Man is amazing, but he is not a masterpiece,’ he said, keeping his eyes fixed on the glass case. ‘Perhaps the artist was a little mad. […]’

  • It would hardly be an overstatement to describe Drummond's next design as an outstanding British locomotive class, and possibly his masterpiece.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The artist spent years creating his blank, a painting admired worldwide.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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