[mas-ter-pees, mah-ster-] 
| 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. |
| mas·ter·piece (mās'tər-pēs') n.
[Probably translation of Dutch meesterstuk or German Meisterstück : Dutch meester and German Meister, master + Dutch stuk and German Stück, piece of work.] |
tərˌpis