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View synonyms for polyphony

polyphony

[ puh-lif-uh-nee ]

noun

  1. Music. polyphonic composition; counterpoint.
  2. Phonetics. representation of different sounds by the same letter or symbol.


polyphony

/ pəˈlɪfənɪ /

noun

  1. polyphonic style of composition or a piece of music utilizing it
  2. the use of polyphones in a writing system
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • poˈlyphonous, adjective
  • poˈlyphonously, adverb
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Other Words From

  • po·lypho·nous adjective
  • po·lypho·nous·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of polyphony1

First recorded in 1820–30, polyphony is from the Greek word polyphōnía variety of tones. See poly-, -phony
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Word History and Origins

Origin of polyphony1

C19: from Greek poluphōnia diversity of tones, from poly- + phōnē speech, sound
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Example Sentences

The Recital is a stripped-down full-size keyboard that offers battery functionality and 128-note polyphony.

The overall narrative gains richness, strength and a kind of polyphony by mixing Fox’s crisp exposition with quotations from Jones’s memoir and the reminiscences of other prisoners.

The polyphony is bold and free, the voices exhibiting an independence perhaps unknown since the days of the madrigalists.

Yet again, he talks vaguely of the intricate polyphony of a cosmic orchestra, cacophonous to our dull ears.

The cellos weave it into the polyphony, sometimes clearly, sometimes in scarcely recognizable augmentation.

Polyphony is their vital element; the forms of counterpoint became more appropriate as the number of parts increased.

With regard to style of writing for the clavier—a few canonic imitations excepted—there is no real polyphony.

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