Polytone

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sound or musical passage built from several different tones sounding together at the same time
2. Describing a complex sound composed of multiple simultaneous pitches blended into one effect
3. A musical texture made up of many tones combined, producing a richly layered or many-voiced sound

Etymology: "Polytone" is a compound built from the Greek prefix "poly-", meaning "many", and "tone", which comes from Greek "tonos" and originally referred to tension or the stretching of a string. Put together, the word describes something with many tones, though it is a modern coinage rather than an ancient term. Because the parts are so transparent, the word needs little explanation beyond its construction. The "poly-" element appears in many scientific and technical terms formed in the modern period from classical roots, and "polytone" follows that same pattern, combining the two elements to name a sound or quality made up of several tones at once.