Definition of: timbre

(tim′bər, tam′-; Fr. ta′br') noun
1. The inherent quality of tone which serves to distinguish one musical instrument or voice from another and renders it unique: sometimes called tone color.
2. In acoustics, the character or quality of a sound that is produced by the relative number and strength of its harmonics: distinguished from intensity (amplitude of vibrations) and pitch (frequency of vibrations).
3. Phonet. The degree of resonance of a voiced sound, especially a vowel. [<F <OF, a small bell, sound of a bell, orig. a timbrel <L tympanum a kettledrum <Gk. tympanon]