polyphonic

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌpɑːlɪˈfɑːnɪk/ UK /ˌpɒlɪˈfɒnɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #104016

Meanings

1

adj
in music, consisting of two or more independent melodic lines sounding together

The choir maintained clarity even in the work's dense polyphonic passages.
2

adj
containing or expressing several distinct voices, perspectives, or meanings

The novel is polyphonic, allowing several narrators to challenge one another.
3

adj
able to produce more than one musical note at the same time

The early polyphonic synthesizer could sustain six notes simultaneously.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · in music, consisting of two... contrapuntalpolyphonous

2 adj · containing or expressing... multivoicedmany-voiced

3 adj · able to produce more than... multivoice

Opposites

monophonic

Word family

Forms polyphonous

Derived forms polyphonically

Related forms polyphonycounterpoint homophonic

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

polyphonic music
music combining several distinct melodic parts played or sung together

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Greek polyphonos ("many-voiced") and later poly- + -phonic, ultimately combining polys ("many") with phone ("voice, sound"). The musical sense was extended to instruments, writing, and discourse containing multiple simultaneous voices.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# polyphonic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌpɑːlɪˈfɑːnɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌpɒlɪˈfɒnɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 104016

## Meanings
1. in music, consisting of two or more independent melodic lines sounding together
2. containing or expressing several distinct voices, perspectives, or meanings
3. able to produce more than one musical note at the same time

## Examples
- The choir maintained clarity even in the work's dense polyphonic passages.
- The novel is polyphonic, allowing several narrators to challenge one another.
- The early polyphonic synthesizer could sustain six notes simultaneously.

## Synonyms
- contrapuntal
- polyphonous
- multivoiced

## Antonyms
- monophonic

## Derived Forms
- polyphonically

## Related Forms
- polyphony
- counterpoint
- homophonic

## Etymology
From Greek polyphonos ("many-voiced") and later poly- + -phonic, ultimately combining polys ("many") with phone ("voice, sound"). The musical sense was extended to instruments, writing, and discourse containing multiple simultaneous voices.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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