counterpoint

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Related to counterpoint: counterpunch

coun·ter·point

(koun′tər-point′)

1. Music

a. Melodic material that is added above or below an existing melody.

b. The technique of combining two or more melodic lines in such a way that they establish a harmonic relationship while retaining their linear individuality.

c. A composition or piece that incorporates or consists of contrapuntal writing.

a. A contrasting but parallel element, item, or theme.

b. Use of contrasting elements in a work of art.

tr.v. coun·ter·point·ed, coun·ter·point·ing, coun·ter·points

1. Music To write or arrange (music) in counterpoint.

2. To set in contrast: "The complex, clotted computer talk sadly counterpoints the simplistic nature of the characters" (Rhoda Koenig).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

counterpoint

(ˈkaʊntəˌpɔɪnt)

1. (Music, other) the technique involving the simultaneous sounding of two or more parts or melodies

2. (Music, other) a melody or part combined with another melody or part. See also descant¹

3. (Music, other) the musical texture resulting from the simultaneous sounding of two or more melodies or parts

4. (Music, other) strict counterpoint the application of the rules of counterpoint as an academic exercise

5. a contrasting or interacting element, theme, or item; foil

6. (Poetry) prosody the use of a stress or stresses at variance with the regular metrical stress

(tr) to set in contrast

[C15: from Old French contrepoint, from contre- counter- + point dot, note in musical notation, that is, an accompaniment set against the notes of a melody]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

coun•ter•point

(ˈkaʊn tərˌpɔɪnt)

n.

1. polyphony (def. 1).

2. the texture resulting from the combining of individual melodic lines.

3. a melody composed to be combined with another melody.

4. any element that is juxtaposed and contrasted with another.

v.t.

5. to emphasize or set off by contrast or juxtaposition.

[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]

counterpoint

Past participle: counterpointed
Gerund: counterpointing

Imperative
counterpoint
counterpoint

Present
I counterpoint
you counterpoint
he/she/it counterpoints
we counterpoint
you counterpoint
they counterpoint

Preterite
I counterpointed
you counterpointed
he/she/it counterpointed
we counterpointed
you counterpointed
they counterpointed

Present Continuous
I am counterpointing
you are counterpointing
he/she/it is counterpointing
we are counterpointing
you are counterpointing
they are counterpointing

Present Perfect
I have counterpointed
you have counterpointed
he/she/it has counterpointed
we have counterpointed
you have counterpointed
they have counterpointed

Past Continuous
I was counterpointing
you were counterpointing
he/she/it was counterpointing
we were counterpointing
you were counterpointing
they were counterpointing

Past Perfect
I had counterpointed
you had counterpointed
he/she/it had counterpointed
we had counterpointed
you had counterpointed
they had counterpointed

Future
I will counterpoint
you will counterpoint
he/she/it will counterpoint
we will counterpoint
you will counterpoint
they will counterpoint

Future Perfect
I will have counterpointed
you will have counterpointed
he/she/it will have counterpointed
we will have counterpointed
you will have counterpointed
they will have counterpointed

Future Continuous
I will be counterpointing
you will be counterpointing
he/she/it will be counterpointing
we will be counterpointing
you will be counterpointing
they will be counterpointing

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been counterpointing
you have been counterpointing
he/she/it has been counterpointing
we have been counterpointing
you have been counterpointing
they have been counterpointing

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been counterpointing
you will have been counterpointing
he/she/it will have been counterpointing
we will have been counterpointing
you will have been counterpointing
they will have been counterpointing

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been counterpointing
you had been counterpointing
he/she/it had been counterpointing
we had been counterpointing
you had been counterpointing
they had been counterpointing

Conditional
I would counterpoint
you would counterpoint
he/she/it would counterpoint
we would counterpoint
you would counterpoint
they would counterpoint

Past Conditional
I would have counterpointed
you would have counterpointed
he/she/it would have counterpointed
we would have counterpointed
you would have counterpointed
they would have counterpointed

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

counterpoint

Two or more melodic lines combined harmoniously.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	counterpoint - a musical form involving the simultaneous sound of two or more melodies concerted music, polyphonic music, polyphony - music arranged in parts for several voices or instruments inversion - (counterpoint) a variation of a melody or part in which ascending intervals are replaced by descending intervals and vice versa
Verb	1.	counterpoint - to show differences when compared; be different; "the students contrast considerably in their artistic abilities" contrast differ - be different; "These two tests differ in only one respect" counterbalance, oppose - contrast with equal weight or force conflict - be in conflict; "The two proposals conflict!" foil - enhance by contrast; "In this picture, the figures are foiled against the background"
	2.	counterpoint - write in counterpoint; "Bach perfected the art of counterpointing" music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner compose, write - write music; "Beethoven composed nine symphonies"

counterpoint

noun

Related words
adjective contrapuntal

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

counterpoint

noun

Striking difference between compared individuals:

Translations

ellenpontkontrapunkt

contrappunto

контрапункт

counterpoint

[ˈkaʊntəpɔɪnt]

A. N (Mus, fig) → contrapunto m

B. VT (fig) → poner el contrapunto a

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

References in classic literature ?

"Down with them!" put in little Jehan, as counterpoint; "down with Master Andry, the beadles and the scribes; the theologians, the doctors and the decretists; the procurators, the electors and the rector!"

View in context

Munt, and tap surreptitiously when the tunes come--of course, not so as to disturb the others--; or like Helen, who can see heroes and shipwrecks in the music's flood; or like Margaret, who can only see the music; or like Tibby, who is profoundly versed in counterpoint, and holds the full score open on his knee; or like their cousin, Fraulein Mosebach, who remembers all the time that Beethoven is "echt Deutsch"; or like Fraulein Mosebach's young man, who can remember nothing but Fraulein Mosebach: in any case, the passion of your life becomes more vivid, and you are bound to admit that such a noise is cheap at two shillings.

View in context

Copland creates a pungent effect by emphasizing the single cross-relation (D[sharp]-D[flat]) that is found between the parts in ic-5 counterpoint. The cross-relation is marked with a connecting line and xr in Example 10.

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Chicago, IL, September 21, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Chicago Counterpoint TV host and world-renowned Fathers' Rights attorney Jeffery M.