homophonic
Americanadjective
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having the same sound.
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Music. having one part or melody predominating (opposed to polyphonic).
adjective
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of or relating to homophony
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of or relating to music in which the parts move together rather than independently
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of homophonic
1875–80; < Greek homóphōn ( os ) ( see homophonous) + -ic
Explanation
Two words or names that sound the same are homophonic. For example, the words threw and through are homophonic. Surprisingly, the Irish surnames Maher, Marr, and Meagher are also homophonic when pronounced the Irish way — all three sound like mar! Homophonic has another meaning in music. It describes a piece that has a single main melody line, with or without accompaniment by other voices or instruments. This is in contrast to polyphonic music, which has more than one melody line of equal importance. Homophonic ultimately comes from the Greek roots homo-, meaning "the same," and phonos, "sound."
Vocabulary lists containing homophonic
Music - Middle School
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Music - High School
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: homo
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For the exhaustive exposition of the technical apparatus, the student must be referred to my "Homophonic Forms."
From Lessons in Music Form A Manual of Analysis of All the Structural Factors and Designs Employed in Musical Composition by Goetschius, Percy
These tendencies are designated by the terms Homophonic and Polyphonic.
From Music: An Art and a Language by Spalding, Walter Raymond
The general conditions which enter into the distinctions of style are enumerated in my "Homophonic Forms," paragraph 97, which the student is earnestly advised to read.
From Lessons in Music Form A Manual of Analysis of All the Structural Factors and Designs Employed in Musical Composition by Goetschius, Percy
These differences in style are often apparent just as a pattern of design—to be seen from the following examples: Homophonic Style.
From Music: An Art and a Language by Spalding, Walter Raymond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
