timbre

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.]

For more information on timbre, visit Britannica.com.

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.

Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your iPhone/iTouch

noun

A sound of distinct pitch and quality: tonality, tone, tone color. See sounds/pleasant sounds/unpleasant sounds/neutral sounds or silence.

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

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

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

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.