polyphony

[ puh-lif-uh-nee ]

/ pəˈlɪf ə ni /

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See synonyms for polyphony on Thesaurus.com

noun

Music. polyphonic composition; counterpoint.

Phonetics. representation of different sounds by the same letter or symbol.

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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of polyphony

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

OTHER WORDS FROM polyphony

po·lyph·o·nous, adjectivepo·lyph·o·nous·ly, adverb

Words nearby polyphony

Polyphemus moth, polyphenol, polyphone, polyphonic, polyphonic prose, polyphony, polyphosphoric acid, polyphyletic, polyphyodont, polypill, polyploid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use polyphony in a sentence

The Recital is a stripped-down full-size keyboard that offers battery functionality and 128-note polyphony.
The best beginner keyboards let you build piano skills without a major investment|Jay Cabrera|October 31, 2021|Popular-Science
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 greatest prison escape ever? ‘The Confidence Men’ tells a sensational true story.|Michael Dirda|June 16, 2021|Washington Post
The polyphony is bold and free, the voices exhibiting an independence perhaps unknown since the days of the madrigalists.
Musical Portraits|Paul Rosenfeld
Yet again, he talks vaguely of the intricate polyphony of a cosmic orchestra, cacophonous to our dull ears.
A Book of Prefaces|H. L. Mencken

The cellos weave it into the polyphony, sometimes clearly, sometimes in scarcely recognizable augmentation.
A Book of Prefaces|H. L. Mencken
Polyphony is their vital element; the forms of counterpoint became more appropriate as the number of parts increased.
Life Of Mozart, Vol. 3 (of 3)|Otto Jahn
With regard to style of writing for the clavier—a few canonic imitations excepted—there is no real polyphony.
The Pianoforte Sonata|J.S. Shedlock

British Dictionary definitions for polyphony

polyphony

/ (pəˈlɪfənɪ) /

noun plural -nies

polyphonic style of composition or a piece of music utilizing it

the use of polyphones in a writing system

Derived forms of polyphony

polyphonous, adjectivepolyphonously, adverb

Word Origin for polyphony

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

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

polyphony

Origin of polyphony

OTHER WORDS FROM polyphony

Words nearby polyphony

Words related to polyphony

How to use polyphony in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for polyphony

Derived forms of polyphony

Word Origin for polyphony