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counterpoint

coun·ter·point
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [koun-ter-point]
    • /ˈkaʊn tərˌpɔɪnt/
    • /ˈkaʊn.tə.pɔɪnt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [koun-ter-point]
    • /ˈkaʊn tərˌpɔɪnt/

Definitions of counterpoint word

  • countable noun counterpoint Something that is a counterpoint to something else contrasts with it in a satisfying way. 3
  • verb counterpoint If one thing counterpoints another, it contrasts with it in a satisfying way. 3
  • uncountable noun counterpoint In music, counterpoint is a technique in which two or more different tunes are played together at the same time. 3
  • noun counterpoint the technique involving the simultaneous sounding of two or more parts or melodies 3
  • noun counterpoint a melody or part combined with another melody or part 3
  • noun counterpoint the musical texture resulting from the simultaneous sounding of two or more melodies or parts 3

Information block about the term

Origin of counterpoint

First appearance:

before 1400
One of the 24% oldest English words
1400-50; late Middle English < Middle French contrepoint, translation of Medieval Latin (cantus) contrāpūnctus literally, (song) pointed or pricked against, referring to notes of an accompaniment written over or under the notes of a plainsong. See counter-, point

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Counterpoint

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

counterpoint popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 65% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

counterpoint usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for counterpoint

noun counterpoint

  • inverse — reversed in position, order, direction, or tendency.
  • contradistinction — a distinction made by contrasting different qualities
  • antithesis — The antithesis of something is its exact opposite.
  • disagreement — the act, state, or fact of disagreeing.
  • contradiction — If you describe an aspect of a situation as a contradiction, you mean that it is completely different from other aspects, and so makes the situation confused or difficult to understand.

Antonyms for counterpoint

noun counterpoint

  • agreement — An agreement is a formal decision about future action which is made by two or more countries, groups, or people.
  • harmony — agreement; accord; harmonious relations.
  • peace — the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.

Top questions with counterpoint

  • what does counterpoint mean?
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  • what is counterpoint in music?
  • what is a counterpoint?
  • what is counterpoint in music theory?
  • what is musical counterpoint?
  • what is point counterpoint?
  • what does the word counterpoint mean?
  • what is counterpoint music?
  • how to write counterpoint?
  • what is a counterpoint in music?
  • what does counterpoint mean in music?
  • what is a counterpoint in writing?

See also

Matching words

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