polyphony

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: po=lyph=o=ny

CIDE DICTIONARY

polyphony, n. [Gr. .].

•  Multiplicity of sounds, as in the reverberations of an echo.  [1913 Webster]
•  Plurality of sounds and articulations expressed by the same vocal sign.  [1913 Webster]
•  Composition in mutually related, equally important parts which share the melody among them; contrapuntal composition; -- opposed to homophony, in which the melody is given to one part only, the others filling out the harmony. See Counterpoint.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

polyphony, n. (pl. -ies)
1 Mus. a polyphonic style in musical composition; counterpoint. b a composition written in this style.
2 Philol. the symbolization of different vocal sounds by the same letter or character.

Derivative

polyphonous adj.