polyphonic

Adjective
Synonyms: polyphonouscontrapuntal

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (3)

  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”Synonyms: polyphonous
  3. having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding togetherSynonyms: contrapuntal
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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]

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