First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1counterpoint
noun coun·ter·point \ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌpȯint\
music : a combination of two or more melodies that are played together
: a melody played in combination with another
: something that is different from something else in usually a pleasing way
Full Definition of COUNTERPOINT
1
a : one or more independent melodies added above or below a given melody b : the combination of two or more independent melodies into a single harmonic texture in which each retains its linear character : polyphony
2
a : a complementing or contrasting item : opposite b : use of contrast or interplay of elements in a work of art (as a drama)
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Origin of COUNTERPOINT
Middle English, from Middle French contrepoint, from Medieval Latin contrapunctus, from Latin contra- counter- + Medieval Latin punctus musical note, melody, from Latin, act of pricking, from pungere to prick — more at pungent
Other Music Terms
Rhymes with COUNTERPOINT
at gunpoint, at knifepoint, basis point, boiling point, breaking point, brownie point, cardinal point, Curie point, disappoint, extra point, floating-point, focal point, freezing point, growing point, ideal point, knuckle joint, melting point, miter joint, needlepoint, out of joint, pedal point, petit point, point-to-point, pressure point, rabbet joint, selling point, silverpoint, sticking point, strain a point, stretch a point, talking point, to the point, trigger point, triple point, turning point, vantage point, vowel point
2counterpoint
verb
: to put two things together in a way that shows how different they are from each other
Full Definition of COUNTERPOINT
transitive verb
1
: to compose or arrange in counterpoint
2
: to set off or emphasize by juxtaposition : set in contrast <counterpoints the public and the private man — Tom Bishop>
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First Known Use of COUNTERPOINT
1875
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