contrapunto
counterpoint
noun kon-trah-POON-toh Rare
Origin: Medieval Latin contrapunctum (note against note)
Also means
contrast
Usage Note
Contrapunto is a music theory term for the technique of combining independent melodic lines; outside music it means a contrasting element that highlights another, as in su silencio era un contrapunto a su discurso apasionado. The word is used in both formal criticism and everyday journalism.
Examples
"El violín añade un contrapunto al tema principal."
Natural Translation
The violin adds a counterpoint to the main theme.
Related Words
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