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Definition of polyphonic - 2 dictionary results

pol⋅y⋅phon⋅ic

[pol-ee-fon-ik]
–adjective
1. consisting of many voices or sounds.
2. Music.
a. having two or more voices or parts, each with an independent melody, but all harmonizing; contrapuntal (opposed to homophonic ).
b. pertaining to music of this kind.
c. capable of producing more than one tone at a time, as an organ or a harp.
3. Phonetics. having more than one phonetic value, as the letter s, that is voiced (z) in nose and unvoiced (s) in salt.

Origin:
1775–85; polyphone + -ic


pol⋅y⋅phon⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To polyphonic
pol·y·phon·ic   (pŏl'ē-fŏn'ĭk)   
adj.  
  1. Music Of, relating to, or characterized by polyphony.

  2. Linguistics Having two or more phonetic values.

pol'y·phon'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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