timbre

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound)“the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely”“the muffled tones of the broken bell summoned them to meet”Synonyms: timber quality tone

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Timber \Tim"ber\, n. [Probably the same word as timber sort of wood; cf. Sw. timber, LG. timmer, MHG. zimber, G. zimmer, F. timbre, LL. timbrium. Cf. Timmer.] (Com.) A certain quantity of fur skins, as of martens, ermines, sables, etc., packed between boards; being in some cases forty skins, in others one hundred and twenty; -- called also timmer. [Written also timbre.] [1913 Webster]

Timber \Tim"ber\, n. [F. timbre. See Timbre.] (Her.) The crest on a coat of arms. [Written also timbre.] [1913 Webster]

Timbre \Tim"bre\, n. See 1st Timber. [1913 Webster]

Timbre \Tim"bre\, n. [F., a bell to be struck with a hammer, sound, tone, stamp, crest, in OF., a timbrel. Cf. Timbrel.]

1.(Her.) The crest on a coat of arms. [1913 Webster]

2.(Mus.) The quality or tone distinguishing voices or instruments; tone color; clang tint; as, the timbre of the voice; the timbre of a violin. See Tone, and Partial tones, under Partial. [1913 Webster]