the quality of sound that is produced by a particular voice or musical instrument 音质；音色；音品 the deep timbre of his voice 他声音深沉的音色
Extra ExamplesTopics Languagec2, Musicc2Differing timbres ensure that we are able to distinguish between notes produced by a flute and a viola. 不同的音色确保我们能够区分长笛和中提琴产生的音符。 Timbre is what makes one instrument or voice sound different from another. 不同的乐器或嗓音所发出的声音各有差异，这就是音质上的不同。
Word Originmid 19th cent.: from French, from medieval Greek timbanon, from Greek tumpanon ‘drum’.