polyphonic

English

Etymology

Originally from Ancient Greek πολύφωνος (polúphōnos) +‎ -ic. In later use from poly- +‎ -phonic.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌpɒlɪˈfɒnɪk/

Adjective

polyphonic (comparative more polyphonic, superlative most polyphonic)

1. Of or relating to polyphony.

   a polyphonic ringtone

2. (music) Having two or more independent but harmonic melodies.

   Coordinate term: monophonic

   Near-synonym: contrapuntal

3. (of an electronic device) Able to play more than one musical note at the same time.
4. (of a text) Capable of being read in more than one way.

Synonyms

• polyphonous

Derived terms

• micropolyphonic
• nonpolyphonic
• polyphonically

Translations

of or relating to polyphony

• Bulgarian: полифоничен (polifoničen), многогласен (mnogoglasen)
• Catalan: polifònic (ca)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 多声部

• Dutch: polyfoon (nl)
• Finnish: moniääninen (fi), polyfoninen (fi)
• French: polyphonique (fr)
• German: polyphon, polyfon
• Italian: polifonico (it)
• Polish: polifoniczny
• Portuguese: polifônico (pt)
• Russian: полифонический (ru) (polifoničeskij)
• Spanish: polifónico (es)
• Turkish: polifonik (tr)

having two or more melodies — see also contrapuntal

• Catalan: polifònic (ca)
• Finnish: moniääninen (fi), polyfoninen (fi)
• French: polyphonique (fr)
• Greek: πολυφωνικός (el) (polyfonikós)
• Italian: polifonico (it)
• Polish: wielogłosowy, polifoniczny
• Spanish: polifónico (es)

able to play more than one musical note at the same time

• Finnish: moniääninen (fi)

capable of being read in more than one way

• Finnish: monimerkityksinen (fi)