TIMBRE

[tim.bre] also tim.ber n [F, fr. MF, bell struck by a hammer, fr. OF, drum, fr. MGk tymbanon kettledrum, fr. Gk tympanon--more at tympanum] (1849): the quality given to a sound by its overtones: as a: the resonance by which the ear recognizes and identifies a voiced speech sound b: the quality of tone distinctive of a particular singing voice or musical instrument -- tim.bral adj