/tam"beuhr, tim"-/ ; Fr. /taonn"brddeu/ , n.
1. Acoustics , Phonet. the characteristic quality of a sound, independent of pitch and loudness, from which its source or manner of production can be inferred. Timbre depends on the relative strengths of the components of different frequencies, which are determined by resonance.
2. Music. the characteristic quality of sound produced by a particular instrument or voice; tone color.
[ 1325-75; ME tymbre tímbanon, var. of Gk týmpanon drum ]