opus

noun

\ ˈō-pəs

plural opera\ ˈō-pə-rə

, ˈä- \ also opuses\ ˈō-pə-səz

Definition of opus

: work especially : a musical composition or set of compositions usually numbered in the order of its issue

Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about opus

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

A literary opus is often a single novel, though the word may sometimes refer to all of a writer's works. But opus normally is used for musical works. Mendelssohn's Opus 90 is his Italian Symphony, for example, and Brahms's Op. 77 is his Violin Concerto. Since many composers' works were never given opus numbers in an orderly way, they now often have catalog numbers assigned by later scholars. So Haydn's Symphony No. 104 is Hob.104 (Hob. is short for Anthony van Hoboken, the cataloger), and Mozart's Marriage of Figaro is K.492 (K. stands for Ludwig Köchel).

Examples of opus in a Sentence

the composer's final opus was performed posthumously to great acclaim

Recent Examples on the Web

Game of Thrones might be over, but the actors who starred in HBO's opus have made some lifelong friendships as a result. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Game of Thrones Stars Emilia Clarke and Rose Leslie Vacation Together Now," 30 Aug. 2019 But there’s just nothing to compare to the Bears’ trend-setting opus. — SI.com, "A History of Football in 100 Objects," 28 Aug. 2019 Middle school, as documented in such educational opuses as Eighth Grade and School of Rock, is legendarily awful. — Belinda Luscombe, Time, "These Academics Spent $1.35 To Make Middle School Less Awful. Here's How.," 30 July 2019 Still, the high craft of Kahane’s opus was apparent in a compelling performance by Kahane, vocal soloists, the Grant Park Orchestra and the Harmony, Hope & Healing Community Chorus. — Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, "Grant Park Orchestra review: Kahane’s ‘Emergency Shelter’ gets a brilliant Midwest premiere," 6 July 2019 Primephonic even lets users search by opus number and key. — Ben Sisario, New York Times, "In Streaming Age, Classical Music Gets Lost in the Metadata," 23 June 2019 To steer his often messy but engaging opus — and eventual cult classic — director Richard Kelly needed a truly magnetic force. — Hau Chu, Washington Post, "The delightfully bonkers film that turned the Rock into Dwayne Johnson," 25 July 2019 Quentin Tarantino’s opus about the Sharon Tate killing, which comes out July 26), TV shows. — Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, "Documentary tales of two ’60s," 27 June 2019 Take their 1997 rock opus, Dig Me Out, a record that is more or less about members Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein dissolving their relationship with each other. — Sophie Kemp, Vogue, "The New Sleater-Kinney Video is an Incestuous, Glorious Queer Girl Heaven," 29 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for opus

borrowed from Latin oper-, opus (plural opera) "work, effort, product of labor, work of art," going back to Indo-European *h₃ep-os-, *h₃ep-es- "work" (whence also Sanskrit apas- "work, action"), derivative of *h₃ep- "ability, force," whence Latin op-, *ops "power, ability, wealth, resource(s)," and, with varying suffixation, Sanskrit apnas- "possession, property, work," Hittite happina- "rich," happir-, happar- "business, trade," Germanic *afla- (whence Old English afol "power, might," Old Norse afl "strength"); and, with lengthened ablaut grade, Sanskrit āpas- "work, religious act," Avestan huuāpah- "performing good deeds," Germanic *ōbjan- "to perform" (whence Old Saxon oƀian "to celebrate," Old High German uoben, uoppen "to practice, exercise")

Note: Possibly also related are Old Norse efna "to perform, fulfill," Old English efnan "to accomplish, achieve" (from Germanic *abnjan-?), but this is uncertain.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for opus

opus

noun

English Language Learners Definition of opus

: a piece of music written by a major composer

formal : an important work done by a writer, painter, etc.

See the full definition for opus in the English Language Learners Dictionary

Keep scrolling for more

opus

Definition of opus

Synonyms for opus

Did You Know?

Examples of opus in a Sentence

First Known Use of opus

History and Etymology for opus

English Language Learners Definition of opus

opus

Definition of opus

Synonyms for opus

Did You Know?

Examples of opus in a Sentence

First Known Use of opus

History and Etymology for opus

English Language Learners Definition of opus

WORD OF THE DAY