polyphony

(pə lifə nē)

noun

  1. multiplicity of sounds, as in an echo
  2. Music a combining of a number of independent but harmonizing melodies, as in a fugue or canon; counterpoint
  3. Phonet. the representation of two or more sounds by the same letter, symbol, or group of symbols, as the group th as in then and in thin

Origin: Gr polyphōnia: see poly- & -phony

See polyphony in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. po·lyph·o·nies
Music with two or more independent melodic parts sounded together.

Related Forms:

  • po·lyphˈo·nous adjective
  • po·lyphˈo·nous·ly adverb

Learn more about polyphony

link/cite print suggestion box