German word

Opus

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈoːpʊs/

Meaning

  • neuter nounmusical work

Example

Das Opus des Komponisten wurde gestern aufgeführt.

The composer's musical work was performed yesterday.

Illustration for Opus (musical work)

More examples

Musikwissenschaftler editierten ein frühes Opus kritisch.

Musicologists critically edited an early work.

Core concept

One self-contained musical work identified as part of a composer's body of compositions.

Common phrases

  • ein frühes Opus

    an early work

  • ein Opus kritisch edieren

    critically edit a work

Similar words

Werk: A collection of music brought together as a single work.
Stück: A brief piece of music written for performance.
Komposition: A musical work created through composition.
Satz: A self-contained movement forming part of a larger work.

Definition in German

Ein Opus ist ein musikalisches Werk oder eine einzelne Komposition, besonders in der klassischen Musik als abgeschlossene Einheit angesehen.

Word origin

The noun is a direct borrowing of Latin opus 'work', whose musical use developed into the German term for a composed work.

Usage tips

  • Opus is neuter, so the definite article is das; its traditional plural is Opera, not the English-style 'Opuses'.

Other meanings

  • worknoun
  • compositionnoun

Opposites

  • Fragmentfragmentnoun
  • Unvollendungincompletenessnoun

Related words

  • Opusverzeichniscatalogue of worksnoun
  • Opusnummeropus numbernoun

Word lists with this word