Word Study
polyphony
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun polyphony has 1 sense
- polyphony(n = noun.communication) concerted music, polyphonic music - music arranged in parts for several voices or instruments; Array is a kind of music
has particulars: counterpoint
Antonym: monophony
Derived form adjective polyphonous1
CIDE DICTIONARY
polyphony, n. [Gr. .].
- Multiplicity of sounds, as in the reverberations of an echo. [1913 Webster]
- Plurality of sounds and articulations expressed by the same vocal sign. [1913 Webster]
- Composition in mutually related, equally important parts which share the melody among them; contrapuntal composition; -- opposed to homophony, in which the melody is given to one part only, the others filling out the harmony. See Counterpoint. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
polyphony, n. (pl. -ies)
1 Mus. a polyphonic style in musical composition; counterpoint. b a composition written in this style.
2 Philol. the symbolization of different vocal sounds by the same letter or character.
1 Mus. a polyphonic style in musical composition; counterpoint. b a composition written in this style.
2 Philol. the symbolization of different vocal sounds by the same letter or character.
Derivative
polyphonous adj.
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