counterpoint

UK: /ˈkaʊntəˌpɔɪnt/ US: /ˈkaʊntɚˌpɔɪnt/ ,(koun′tər point′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

coun•ter•point /ˈkaʊntɚˌpɔɪnt/   n. 

1. Music and Dance polyphony (def. 1).
2. [countable] any element contrasted with another.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

coun•ter•point  (koun′tər point′), n. 

1. Music and Dance the art of combining melodies.
2. Music and Dance the texture resulting from the combining of individual melodic lines.
3. Music and Dance a melody composed to be combined with another melody.
4. Poetry Also called coun′terpoint rhythm′. [Pros.] syncopation (def. 2).
5. any element that is juxtaposed and contrasted with another.

v.t. 

6. to emphasize or clarify by contrast or juxtaposition.

• 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
• late Middle English 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

counterpoint / ˈkaʊntəˌpɔɪnt/ noun

1. the technique involving the simultaneous sounding of two or more parts or melodies
2. a melody or part combined with another melody or part
   See also descant1
3. the musical texture resulting from the simultaneous sounding of two or more melodies or parts

verb

1. (transitive) to set in contrast

Related adjective(s): contrapuntal

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French contrepoint, from contre- counter- + point dot, note in musical notation, that is, an accompaniment set against the notes of a melody