opus
Composer's major piece
An opus is a work of art, especially a musical composition.
The plural opera once dominated English but now sounds affected; opuses is standard.
Opus often appears with a number identifying a composer's works in sequence: Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14, Opus 27.
A magnum opus is someone's greatest work or masterpiece.
Extended composition for orchestra
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- cantataVocal work with instruments
requiem · oratorio · rhapsody · overture · prelude · nocturne · etude · suite
Pigment on canvas
- sculptureShaped three-dimensional art
- frescoWet plaster painting technique
- tapestryDecorative woven wall cloth
- mosaicInlaid pictorial arrangement
engraving · etching · installation · mural · canvas · portfolio · retrospective · exhibition
New and unusual
- tomeSubstantial scholarly volume
- treatiseFormal scholarly composition
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- trilogyThree linked creative works
epic · saga · chronicle · anthology · volume · publication · text · narrative
Outstanding item in collection
- tour de forceExceptional feat of skill
- crowning achievementGreatest success attained
- pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
- culminationHighest or final point
triumph · classic · benchmark · paragon · epitome · quintessence · treasure · jewel
Ordered list of items
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- chronologyTemporal ordering of events
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
- designationFormal name or title
numbering · listing · index · bibliography · discography · notation
symphony
Extended composition for orchestra
- concertoSolo-and-orchestra composition
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
cantata · requiem · oratorio · rhapsody · overture · prelude · nocturne · etude · suite · variation
painting
Pigment on canvas
- sculptureShaped three-dimensional art
- frescoWet plaster painting technique
- tapestryDecorative woven wall cloth
mosaic · engraving · etching · installation · mural · canvas · portfolio · retrospective · exhibition · oeuvre
novel
New and unusual
- tomeSubstantial scholarly volume
- treatiseFormal scholarly composition
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
trilogy · epic · saga · chronicle · anthology · volume · publication · text · narrative · prose
pièce de résistance
Outstanding item in collection
- tour de forceExceptional feat of skill
- crowning achievementGreatest success attained
- pinnacleUtmost summit or spire
culmination · triumph · classic · benchmark · paragon · epitome · quintessence · treasure · jewel · marvel
catalog
Ordered list of items
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- chronologyTemporal ordering of events
- sequenceOrdered succession of elements
designation · numbering · listing · index · bibliography · discography · notation
- creative worksbooks, autobiography, memoir, novels, diary
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- written worksessay, novel, anthologies, history books, letter
- achievementsaccomplishment, achievement, accomplishments, achievements, triumph
- compositionssymphony, concerto, sonata, suite, overture
opussketch
Hasty informal drawing
draft · rough draft · preliminary sketch · unfinished work · outline
opusdestruction
Act of completely ruining
demolition · obliteration · erasure · annihilation · undoing
- magnum opusCreator's supreme achievement
- opus caementicium
- opus sectile
- opus anglicanumMedieval English ecclesiastical embroidery
- Opus DeiCatholic organization meaning "God's work"