/mas"teuhr pees', mah"steuhr-/ , n.
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.
[ 1570-80; MASTER + PIECE, modeled on D meesterstuk, G Meisterstück ]