/ pəˈlɪfəni; NAmE / noun
[ U ] ( music ) the combination of several different patterns of musical notes sung together to form a single piece of music
SYN counterpoint
► poly·phon·ic / ˌpɒliˈfɒnɪk; NAmE ˌpɑːliˈfɑːnɪk/ adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent.: from Greek poluphōnia , from polu- many + phōnē sound.