[syn: polyphonic, contrapuntal]
The 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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
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]