polyphonic

2 definitions found

polyphonic - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Polyphonic \Pol`y*phon"ic\, a. [Gr. ?; poly`s many + ? sound:
     cf. F. polyphone.]
     1. Having a multiplicity of sounds.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Characterized by polyphony; as, Assyrian polyphonic
        characters.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Mus.) Consisting of several tone series, or melodic
        parts, progressing simultaneously according to the laws of
        counterpoint; contrapuntal; as, a polyphonic composition;
        -- opposed to homophonic, or monodic.
        [1913 Webster]

polyphonic - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  polyphonic
      adj 1: having two or more phonetic values; "polyphonic letters
             such as `a'"
      2: of or relating to or characterized by polyphony; "polyphonic
         traditions of the baroque" [syn: polyphonic, polyphonous]
      3: having two or more independent but harmonically related
         melodic parts sounding together [syn: polyphonic,
         contrapuntal] [ant: monophonic]