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timbre

 
Dictionary: tim·bre   (tăm'bər, tĭm'-) pronunciation
 
n.

The combination of qualities of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds of the same pitch and volume.

[French, from Old French, drum, clapperless bell, probably from Medieval Greek *timbanon, drum, from Greek tumpanon, kettledrum.]


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A quality of sound that distinguishes one voice or musical instrument from another. For example, MIDI synthesizers are multi-timbral, meaning that they can play multiple instruments simultaneously.

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A mixture of three pure tones (top) yields a complex resultant tone (bottom), such as might be …
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A mixture of three pure tones (top) yields a complex resultant tone (bottom), such as might be … (credit: © Merriam-Webster Inc.)
Quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument, voice, or other sound source from another. Timbre largely results from a characteristic combination of overtones produced by different instruments. This distinctive combination (which usually varies across the range of pitches) is what principally permits a listener to distinguish a clarinet from a flute, an alto from a tenor, or even a Stradivarius violin from a Guarneri violin, when both are sounding the same pitch. One element of timbre results from the differing methods of producing the sounds (blowing, bowing, striking, etc.), especially audible at the moment a note begins.

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Word Tutor: timbre
Top
pronunciation

IN BRIEF: The distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound).

pronunciation Actor Paul Robeson is famous for the rich timbre of his voice.

 
Translations: Timbre
Top

Dansk (Danish)
n. - klangfarve

Nederlands (Dutch)
klankkleur

Français (French)
n. - timbre

Deutsch (German)
n. - Timbre, Klangfarbe

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (μουσ.) χροιά ήχου, τόνος

Italiano (Italian)
timbro

Português (Portuguese)
n. - timbre (m), caráter distintivo (m)

Русский (Russian)
тембр голоса/звука, герб

Español (Spanish)
n. - timbre

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - timbre, klangfärg

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
音色, 音质

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 音色, 音質

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 음색, 음질

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 音色

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) جرس,‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮גון הקול, גון הצליל, נעימה‬


 
 

 

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