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opus

opus

22 8.1
A musical work that a composer writes and often numbers
  • noun
  • /ˈoʊpəs/
translation icon : obra
  • The symphony is considered the composer's greatest opus, showcasing his musical genius.
  • magnum opus
  • the entire opus
  • the final opus

Oh, you haven't read Proust's, you know, monumental opus, which I'll admit I haven't read.

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Examples

  • This is my magnum opus.

  • Only a few months earlier, Rorschach had also published his magnum opus.

    Academic text (2017)
  • I began my major work, my opus.

  • And my associates and I will take a look at your little opus and maybe we can do some business together.

  • We got a financial interest in the success of this opus, Miss Vanessi.

  • One of them was a massive opus examining William Shakespeare's role in American popular culture.

    Academic text (2014)
  • I am here to absorb local colour for my grand opus, "Snow on the Sphinx's Face".

  • The appendix of his opus magnum details the sources and their locations.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Yet, this magnum opus explores tendencies of genius almost exclusively.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Theodor Herzl, one of Zionism's founding thinkers, wrote a magnum opus called Der Judenstaat.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

piece
vsopus
3.0

A creative work such as a song, painting or article

is a narrowly musical creator work usually identified by number
score
vsopus
  • Specialized
331 6.5

Written music that shows parts for different instruments

is the musical work itself rather than its written notation
composition
vsopus
35 3.5

A piece of music or writing made by someone

is limited to a composer's musical work and often appears with a number
22 1.8

A musical work like a song or music played by instruments

is the creator's work that is specifically numbered among their output
3 3.8

A piece of music written by a composer

is the creator's work often given a formal number in their catalogue

Compounds

magnum opus
  • Formal
4 8.3

A person's best and most important work, like a famous book, painting, or piece of music

How Important

masterpiece
156 3.8
opus
22 8.1
work
1.0
piece
3.0

Surface Forms

opus singular
opera plural

Etymology

The word opus comes from Latin and means 'work', and composers use it for a musical 'work' often with a number to show its order. The same idea is in operation and operate, so an opus is simply a composer's named 'work'.