homophone

(noun)

A word which is pronounced the same as another word but differs in spelling or meaning or origin, for example: carat, caret, carrot, and karat.

Related Terms

Examples of homophone in the following topics:

  • Common Spelling Errors

    • Two words with different meanings but the same pronunciation are homophones.
    • If you don't know which homophone is the right one to use, look both up in the dictionary to see which meaning (and spelling) you want.
    • Common homophones include:

  • Terms that Describe Texture

    • Homophonic music can also be called homophony.
    • More informally, people who are describing homophonic music may mention chords, accompaniment, harmony or harmonies.
    • Choral music in which the parts have mostly the same rhythms at the same time is homophonic.
    • Music that is mostly homophonic can become temporarily polyphonic if an independent countermelody is added.

  • Suggested Listening

    • Most popular music genres strongly favor homophonic textures, whether featuring a solo singer, rapper, guitar solo, or several vocalists singing in harmony.

  • Some Useful Terms

    • Countermelody or descant - Sometimes a piece of music that is basically melody-with-accompaniment (homophonic) will include a single part that is truly independent of the melody.

  • Introduction

    • "Barbershop"-style music is another good example of this homophonic, or chordal, kind of texture, which is not considered counterpoint.
    • Even music that most people would describe as homophonic or chordal, because all the lines have exactly the same rhythm, is often written following the voice-leading rules of counterpoint.

  • Harmony

    • (See Homophonic. )