polyphonic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective having two or more phonetic values
    • polyphonic letters such as `a'
  2. adjective of or relating to or characterized by polyphony
    polyphonous.
    • polyphonic traditions of the baroque
  3. adjective having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together
    contrapuntal.

WordNet

Pol`y*phon"ic adjective
Etymology
Gr. many + sound: cf. F. polyphone.
Definitions
  1. Having a multiplicity of sounds.
  2. Characterized by polyphony; as, Assyrian polyphonic characters.
  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.

Webster 1913