timbre

American  

[tam-ber, tim-, tan-br^uh] / ˈtæm bər, ˈtɪm-, ˈtɛ̃ brə /

noun

• timbres
  plural

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.

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timbre British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• timbres
  plural

Etymology

Origin of timbre

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”

Explanation

Timbre is a word that describes the tone or unique quality of a sound. If you play the same note on a piano and on a guitar, each note will have its own timbre. Though an electric saw has its own timbre, as does the sound of a tree whooshing through the air, don't confuse timbre with "Timber!," the word you shout when chopping down trees. Timbre comes from the Greek word that means drum, and it is pronounced "TAM-burr," not "TIM-burr." Timber stems from an Old English word for building materials.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

timbre timbres

With Ovy, Karol revived the shadowy timbre of her joint Shakira track “TQG” into the new “Bebiendo Lágrimas,” a reggaeton song that adamantly rejects the notion of love.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

From the very first notes the deep yet soaring timbre of the song, part of a new generation of Cape Verdean music, sparks applause.

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

The researchers discovered that only a handful of extremely precise movement features were strongly connected to changes in perceived timbre.

From Science Daily ● May 28, 2026

But Colón’s instrumental preference changed once he heard the bodied timbre of Mon Rivera’s all-trombone brass lineup marching to a bomba beat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026

His voice carried the cold timbre inseparable from a metallic diaphragm, “Do you realize the seriousness of such a statement, Powell?”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

The results showed that listeners consistently recognized the intended timbres.

From Science Daily ● May 28, 2026

Strayhorn’s inspired 15-minute arrangement of “Mood Indigo” moves through three keys, shifting timbres, and even a turn into waltz time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026

Online, many fans marveled at the song’s ability to replicate the timbres and cadences of its real-life counterparts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2023

Scott Johnson, a composer and guitarist who forged an original style involving the rhythmic cadences of speech and the gestures and timbres of popular music, died on Friday in Manhattan.

From New York Times ● Mar. 26, 2023

Children are able to discern the timbre of a sound from a very young age, including the vocal timbres of peers, relatives, and teachers, as well as the timbres of different instruments.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

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