timbre

[tam-ber, tim-, tan-br^uh]

noun

1. Acoustics, Phonetics.,  the characteristic quality of a sound, independent of pitch and loudness, from which its source or manner of production can be inferred. Timbre depends on the relative strengths of the components of different frequencies, which are determined by resonance.

2. Music.,  the characteristic quality of sound produced by a particular instrument or voice; tone color.

3. characteristic tone of expression.

   the masterful rhythm and timbre of his writing.

timbre

/ ˈtæmbə, tɛ̃brə, ˈtɪmbə /

noun

1. phonetics the distinctive tone quality differentiating one vowel or sonant from another

2. music tone colour or quality of sound, esp a specific type of tone colour

Word History and Origins

Origin of timbre¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English tymbre, from Middle French “clapperless bell, bell rung by a hammer,” from Old French “small drum, drum,” from Latin tympanum “timbrel, drum,” from Greek týmpanon “timbrel, kettledrum, drum”

Word History and Origins

Origin of timbre¹

C19: from French: note of a bell, from Old French: drum, from Medieval Greek timbanon, from Greek tumpanon drum

Example Sentences

Recorded in large part during the band’s sojourn to New Orleans, the record positively brims with energy and musical timbre.

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"We have that same timbre but I've had to work on the way he speaks."

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But Jones’ timbre perhaps gave voice to something universal, a sound to nobility and resplendence.

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You could converse in a limited way with Siri, whose default female-coded voice had the timbre and tone of a self-assured middle-aged hotel concierge.

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Abela, who does her own singing and miraculously captures the vintage jazz style and timbre of Winehouse’s undeniable vocal talent, delivers a fully committed performance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accent 
• inflection 
• intonation 
• overtone 
• resonance 
• tonality