counterpoint
English
Etymology 1
From counter- + point, Middle French contrepoint.
Noun
counterpoint (countable and uncountable, plural counterpoints)
- (music) A melody added to an existing one, especially one added to provide harmony whilst each retains its simultaneous identity; a composition consisting of such contrapuntal melodies.
- 2009, Roger T. Dean, The Oxford Handbook of Computer Music
- I noticed […] that when a very cheesy synthesized violin sound plays in counterpoint with a real violin, it can quite convincingly seem as if two violins are playing.
- 2009, Roger T. Dean, The Oxford Handbook of Computer Music
- Any similar contrasting element in a work of art.
- 2014, Nancy M. Marion, Willard M. Oliver, Drugs In American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics and the Law - p.188
- As counterpoints to the glamorous looks of 1980s models such as Chistie Brinkley and Heidi Klum, heroin chic looks such as Kate Moss were thin to the point of anorectic gauntness.
- 2014, Nancy M. Marion, Willard M. Oliver, Drugs In American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics and the Law - p.188
- An opposite point.
- 1605, Sir Edwin Sandys, Europae Speculum [A Relation of the State of Religion in Europe], in Mary Ellen Henley, Sir Edwin Sandy's Europae Speculum: a Critical Edition (2001)
- […] Priests; who affecting in them selves and their followers a certein Angelical puritie, fell sodainly to the very counterpoint of justifying bestialitie.
- 1605, Sir Edwin Sandys, Europae Speculum [A Relation of the State of Religion in Europe], in Mary Ellen Henley, Sir Edwin Sandy's Europae Speculum: a Critical Edition (2001)
Synonyms
- contrapuntal music
- polyphony
Translations
(music) a melody added to an existing one
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an opposite point
Verb
counterpoint (third-person singular simple present counterpoints, present participle counterpointing, simple past and past participle counterpointed)
Translations
(transitive) to compose or arrange such music
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Etymology 2
From Old French contrepointe, a corruption of coultepointe, from Latin culcita puncta, i.e. a stitched pillow or cover. See quilt.
Anagrams
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