polyphonic
consisting of many voices or sounds.
Music.
having two or more voices or parts, each with an independent melody, but all harmonizing; contrapuntal (opposed to homophonic).
pertaining to music of this kind.
capable of producing more than one tone at a time, as an organ or a harp.
Phonetics. having more than one phonetic value, as the letter s, that is voiced (z) in nose and unvoiced (s) in salt.
Origin of polyphonic
1Other words from polyphonic
- pol·y·phon·i·cal·ly, adverb
Words Nearby polyphonic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use polyphonic in a sentence
It runs as a polyphonic symphony compared to the simple percussion section of the heart or the synchronized cellos of the liver.
I institute quite early what I call polyphonic technic—one hand doing a different movement or touch from the other.
Piano Mastery | Harriette BrowerI thoroughly believe in the value of polyphonic music as a mental study; it is a necessity.
Piano Mastery | Harriette BrowerThen follows a short Allegro in three-four time, of polyphonic character.
The Pianoforte Sonata | J.S. ShedlockThe Gloria begins with a triumphant polyphonic chorus accompanied by a spirited symphony for strings.
The easiest solution would have been to use some such polyphonic instrument as the piano or harmonium.
An Autobiography | Igor Stravinsky
British Dictionary definitions for polyphonic
/ (ˌpɒlɪˈfɒnɪk) /
music composed of relatively independent melodic lines or parts; contrapuntal
many-voiced
phonetics of, relating to, or denoting a polyphone
Derived forms of polyphonic
- polyphonically, adverb
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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