timbre

Pronunciation: /ˈtæm.bɚ/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound)

Etymology

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

In classic literature

Synonyms

timber, quality, tone

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
sound property
Narrower (hyponyms)
plangency, harmonic, resonance, register, shrillness, color

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