/kown"teuhr poynt'/ , n.
1. Music. the art of combining melodies.
2. Music. the texture resulting from the combining of individual melodic lines.
3. a melody composed to be combined with another melody.
4. Also called counterpoint rhythm . Pros. syncopation (def. 2).
5. any element that is juxtaposed and contrasted with another.
v.t.
6. to emphasize or clarify by contrast or juxtaposition.
[ 1400-50; late ME contrepoint, trans. of ML ( cantus ) contrapunctus lit., (song) pointed or pricked against, referring to notes of an accompaniment written over or under the notes of a plainsong. See COUNTER-, POINT ]