'Counterpoint' definitions:
Definition of 'counterpoint'
(from WordNet)
noun
A musical form involving the simultaneous sound of two or more melodies
verb
To show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities" [syn: contrast, counterpoint]
verb
Write in counterpoint; "Bach perfected the art of counterpointing"
Definition of 'Counterpoint'
From: GCIDE
- Counterpoint \Coun"ter*point`\, n. [OF. contrepoincte, corruption of earlier counstepointe, countepointe, F. courtepointe, fr. L. culcita cushion, mattress (see Quilt, and cf. Cushion) + puncta, fem. p. p. of pungere to prick (see Point). The word properly meant a stitched quilt, with the colors broken one into another.] A coverlet; a cover for a bed, often stitched or broken into squares; a counterpane. See 1st Counterpane. [1913 Webster]
- Embroidered coverlets or counterpoints of purple silk. --Sir T. North. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Counterpoint'
From: GCIDE
- Counterpoint \Coun"ter*point`\ (koun"t?r-point`), n. [Counter- + point.] An opposite point [Obs.] --Sir E. Sandys. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Counterpoint'
From: GCIDE
- Counterpoint \Coun"ter*point`\, n. [F. contrepoint; cf. It. contrappunto. Cf. Contrapuntal.] (Mus.) (a) The setting of note against note in harmony; the adding of one or more parts to a given canto fermo or melody. (b) The art of polyphony, or composite melody, i. e., melody not single, but moving attended by one or more related melodies. (c) Music in parts; part writing; harmony; polyphonic music. See Polyphony. [1913 Webster]
- Counterpoint, an invention equivalent to a new creation of music. --Whewell. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'counterpoint'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- accent,
- accentuation,
- Alexandrine,
- Ambrosian chant,
- amphibrach,
- amphimacer,
- anacrusis,
- anapest,
- antipode,
- antipodes,
- antipole,
- antispast,
- antithesis,
- antonym,
- arsis,
- bacchius,
- beat,
- cadence,
- caesura,
- catalexis,
- chloriamb,
- chloriambus,
- colon,
- contra,
- contrapunto,
- converse,
- counter,
- counterbalance,
- countercheck,
- counterpoise,
- counterpole,
- counterterm,
- cretic,
- dactyl,
- dactylic hexameter,
- diaeresis,
- dimeter,
- dipody,
- dochmiac,
- elegiac,
- elegiac couplet,
- elegiac pentameter,
- emphasis,
- epitrite,
- false music,
- faux-bourdon,
- feminine caesura,
- foil,
- foot,
- heptameter,
- heptapody,
- heroic couplet,
- hexameter,
- hexapody,
- iamb,
- iambic,
- iambic pentameter,
- ictus,
- inverse,
- ionic,
- jingle,
- lilt,
- masculine caesura,
- measure,
- meter,
- metrical accent,
- metrical foot,
- metrical group,
- metrical unit,
- metron,
- molossus,
- mora,
- movement,
- musica ficta,
- numbers,
- obverse,
- offset,
- opposite,
- opposite number,
- paeon,
- pentameter,
- pentapody,
- period,
- polyphonism,
- polyphony,
- proceleusmatic,
- pyrrhic,
- quantity,
- reverse,
- rhythm,
- setoff,
- spondee,
- sprung rhythm,
- stress,
- swing,
- syzygy,
- tetrameter,
- tetrapody,
- tetraseme,
- the contrary,
- the other side,
- thesis,
- tribrach,
- trimeter,
- tripody,
- triseme,
- trochee,
- vis-a-vis