ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWordsPpolyphonic
ISEE/SSAThard
polyphonic
Meaning: having multiple independent melodic lines sounding together
polyphonic in a sentence
How polyphonic is used in real sentences:
The choir's polyphonic arrangement wove together four separate vocal lines at once.
As the orchestra rehearsed, the conductor explained how the polyphonic texture let violins and cellos each carry a distinct tune.
“In a polyphonic rowing song, she tracked a bass phrase beneath two higher melodies that entered at different moments; the arrangement preserved pronunciations absent from formal speeches.”
— from the passage Voices Across Generations
Synonyms for polyphonic
Other words for polyphonic — contrapuntal and multivoiced — carry the same meaning.
- contrapuntal
- multivoiced
Antonyms of polyphonic
Words that mean the opposite of polyphonic:
- monophonic
Where it comes from
From Greek poly 'many' + phone 'sound, voice'
Word parts
- poly — many
polyphonic: poly- (many) + phon (sound) + -ic (relating to)
Memory hook
POLYphonic — POLY (many) + PHON (sound) — MANY SOUNDS woven together at once.
Practice polyphonic in the app