polytonality

[ pol-ee-toh-nal-i-tee ]

nounMusic.
  1. the use of more than one key at the same time.

Origin of polytonality

1
First recorded in 1920–25; poly- + tonality
  • Also pol·y·ton·al·ism [pol-ee-tohn-l-iz-uhm]. /ˌpɒl iˈtoʊn lˌɪz əm/.

Other words from polytonality

  • pol·y·ton·al·ist [pol-ee-tohn-l-ist], /ˌpɒl iˈtoʊn l ɪst/, noun

Words Nearby polytonality

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for polytonality

polytonality

polytonalism

/ (ˌpɒlɪtəʊˈnælɪtɪ) /


noun
  1. music the simultaneous use of more than two different keys or tonalities

Derived forms of polytonality

  • polytonal, adjective
  • polytonally, adverb
  • polytonalist, noun

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