counterpoint

noun

/ˈkaʊntəpɔɪnt/

/ˈkaʊntərpɔɪnt/

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[uncountable] (music) the combination of two or more tunes played together to form a single piece of music synonym polyphony
- The two melodies are played in counterpoint.
see also contrapuntalTopics Musicc2
[countable] counterpoint (to something) (music) a tune played in combination with another one
[uncountable, countable] (formal) an effective or interesting contrast
- This work is in austere counterpoint to that of Gaudi.

Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French contrepoint, from medieval Latin contrapunctum ‘(song) pricked or marked over against (the original melody)’, from contra- ‘against’ + punctum, from pungere ‘to prick’.

counterpoint

verb

/ˈkaʊntəpɔɪnt/

/ˈkaʊntərpɔɪnt/

(formal)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they counterpoint	/ˈkaʊntəpɔɪnt/ /ˈkaʊntərpɔɪnt/
he / she / it counterpoints	/ˈkaʊntəpɔɪnts/ /ˈkaʊntərpɔɪnts/
past simple counterpointed	/ˈkaʊntəpɔɪntɪd/ /ˈkaʊntərpɔɪntɪd/
past participle counterpointed	/ˈkaʊntəpɔɪntɪd/ /ˈkaʊntərpɔɪntɪd/
-ing form counterpointing	/ˈkaʊntəpɔɪntɪŋ/ /ˈkaʊntərpɔɪntɪŋ/

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counterpoint something (with/against something) to contrast something with something else; to form a contrast with something
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French contrepoint, from medieval Latin contrapunctum ‘(song) pricked or marked over against (the original melody)’, from contra- ‘against’ + punctum, from pungere ‘to prick’.