Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: French
Origin: contrepoint, from Medieval Latin contrapunctus, from contra- ( CONTRA-) + punctus 'musical note, tune'

counterpoint

 noun
     
Related topics: Music
coun‧ter‧point
1 [uncountable]APM the combination of two or more tunes played together so that they sound like one tune
in counterpoint to something
The viola is exactly in counterpoint to the first violin.
2 [countable]APM a tune that is one part of counterpoint
3 [uncountable and countable] when two things that are different are compared in an interesting or pleasant way
counterpoint to
I have used my interviews with parents as a counterpoint to a professional judgement.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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