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masterpiece

 - 3 dictionary results

mas⋅ter⋅piece

[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.

Origin:
1570–80; master + piece, modeled on D meesterstuk, G Meisterstück
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To masterpiece
mas·ter·piece   (mās'tər-pēs')   
n.  
  1. An outstanding work of art or craft.

  2. The greatest work, as of an artist. Also called masterwork.

  3. Something superlative of its kind: a masterpiece of political ingenuity.


[Probably translation of Dutch meesterstuk or German Meisterstück : Dutch meester and German Meister, master + Dutch stuk and German Stück, piece of work.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

masterpiece 
1605, from master + piece. A translation of Du. meesterstuk "work by which a craftsman attains the rank of master" (cf. Ger. Meisterstück).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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