■ noun
1》 Music the technique of setting, writing, or playing a melody or melodies in conjunction with another, according to fixed rules.
↘a melody played in conjunction with another.
2》 a thing forming a pleasing or notable contrast with something else.
■ verb
1》 Music add ~ to (a melody).
2》 emphasize by contrast.
3》 compensate for.
Origin
ME: from OFr. contrepoint , from med. L. contrapunctum in sense '(song) marked over against (the original melody)'.