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Definition of polyphony - 3 dictionary results
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po⋅lyph⋅o⋅ny

  [puh-lif-uh-nee]
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–noun
1. Music. polyphonic composition; counterpoint.
2. Phonetics. representation of different sounds by the same letter or symbol.
Origin:
1820–30; < Gk polyphōnía variety of tones. See poly-, -phony

Related forms:
po⋅lyph⋅o⋅nous, adjective
po⋅lyph⋅o⋅nous⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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po·lyph·o·ny   (pə-lĭf'ə-nē)   
n.   pl. po·lyph·o·nies
Music with two or more independent melodic parts sounded together.
po·lyph'o·nous adj., po·lyph'o·nous·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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Word Origin & History

polyphony 
1828, "multiplicity of sounde," from Gk. polyphonia "variety of sounds," from polys "many" (see poly-) + phone "voice, sound" (see fame). The meaning "counterpoint" (1864) is perhaps a back-formation from the adj. polyphonic (1782), formed in Eng. from the same Gk. root.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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