timbre
The quality of a sound independent of its pitch and volume.
Other meanings
The pitch of a sound as heard by the ear, described relative to its absolute pitch.
“When someone speaks after inhaling helium, his voice has a higher timbre. With sulfur hexafluoride, the result is a lower timbre.”
The crest on a (helmet atop a) coat of arms.
Synonyms
- quality
- tone
Related words
- timbral
- timbred
- timbreless
- timbric
- timbrical
Word history
From Ancient Greek "τύμπανον" (drum).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “timbre” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.