# timbre

/ˈtɪmbɝ/ (US) · /tˈæmbɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/timbre
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

the kind of sound that makes one voice or instrument different from another, even when they play the same note.

For teachers: the distinctive tonal character that distinguishes one voice or musical instrument from another playing the same pitch and loudness.

## Examples

- Her voice has a warm timbre that I love.
- The violin and the flute play the same note, but you can tell them apart by their timbre.
- Even through the old recording, the cello's dark timbre cuts through the orchestra with a richness no other instrument can match.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.