timbre

C1 Topic:Art & Music
US /ˈtæm.bɚ/ UK /ˈtæmbɹə/
noun Freq #57134

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    The quality of a sound independent of its pitch and volume.

    The flute and oboe played the same pitch but had a different timbre.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · the quality of a sound... tone color

Etymology

From French timbre, ultimately from Ancient Greek τύμπανον (túmpanon, “drum”). Doublet of tympanum, timpani, timbal, and tymbal.

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