Timbre
noun
The quality of a sound or voice that makes it different from others.
The timbre of her voice is so distinctive that I can recognize it easily.
Often appears as...
- distinctive timbre
- rich timbre
noun
In music, the quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another.
The violin and the cello have different timbres.
Often appears as...
- timbre of the instrument
- change in timbre
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The quality of a sound or voice that makes it different from others.
The timbre of her voice is so distinctive that I can recognize it easily.
Often appears as...
- distinctive timbre
- rich timbre
noun
In music, the quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another.
The violin and the cello have different timbres.
Often appears as...
- timbre of the instrument
- change in timbre
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Impact
Timbre can carry emotions, making sounds feel happy, sad, or scary.
The eerie timbre of the music set a haunting atmosphere.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Volume
Timbre refers to sound quality, not how loud or soft it is.
Even at a low volume, the timbre of the flute was warm and mellow.
Pro Tip 3/3Voice Recognition
Timbre helps us identify who is speaking even without seeing them.
His voice's rich timbre is so unique; I recognized his laughter in the crowd.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Impact
Timbre can carry emotions, making sounds feel happy, sad, or scary.
The eerie timbre of the music set a haunting atmosphere.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Volume
Timbre refers to sound quality, not how loud or soft it is.
Even at a low volume, the timbre of the flute was warm and mellow.
Pro Tip 3/3Voice Recognition
Timbre helps us identify who is speaking even without seeing them.
His voice's rich timbre is so unique; I recognized his laughter in the crowd.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Impact
Timbre can carry emotions, making sounds feel happy, sad, or scary.
The eerie timbre of the music set a haunting atmosphere.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Volume
Timbre refers to sound quality, not how loud or soft it is.
Even at a low volume, the timbre of the flute was warm and mellow.
Pro Tip 3/3Voice Recognition
Timbre helps us identify who is speaking even without seeing them.
His voice's rich timbre is so unique; I recognized his laughter in the crowd.
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Video examples
How to speak so that...
That's register. Then we have timbre. It's the way your voice feels. Again, the research shows that we prefer voices which are rich, smooth, warm, like hot chocolate. Well if that's not you, that's not the end of the world, because you can train. Go and get a voice coach.
Video examples
What’s a squillo, and...
is a distinctive ringing timbre called a singer’s squillo. Opera singers work for decades to create their squillo. They can produce higher frequencies by modifying the shape and tension in their vocal folds and vocal tract.
Video examples
How to speak so that...
That's register. Then we have timbre. It's the way your voice feels. Again, the research shows that we prefer voices which are rich, smooth, warm, like hot chocolate. Well if that's not you, that's not the end of the world, because you can train. Go and get a voice coach.
Video examples
What’s a squillo, and...
is a distinctive ringing timbre called a singer’s squillo. Opera singers work for decades to create their squillo. They can produce higher frequencies by modifying the shape and tension in their vocal folds and vocal tract.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Leonard Mlodinow
American Physicist
The pitch, timbre, volume, speed, and cadence of your voice, the speed with which you speak, and even the way you modulate pitch and loudness, are all hugely influential factors in how convincing you are and how people judge your state of mind and character.
Quote examples
Cynthia Ozick
American Novelist
Sometimes writing has to be forced. In starting out, the shape and timbre and texture of what is to come is an uncertain chimera shimmering from behind a veil. You must not wait, loiter, dilly-dally. You must force your way painfully through.
Quote examples
Karlheinz Stockhausen
German Composer
Or the other process that is important is that I compress longer sections of composed music, either found or made by myself, to such an extent that the rhythm becomes a timbre, and formal subdivisions become rhythm.
Quote examples
Harry Knowles
American Critic
Geekiness is that feeling of overwhelming passion for that thing in life that you focus on. Whether it be a nephew's first few steps or the timbre in one's voice when discussing the latest Cohen brothers film.
Quote examples
Theaster Gates
American Artist
I sometimes am challenged to imagine where the timbre of art should be. Should it be about objects that point to this current moment, or how objects are related to ideas of this current moment?
Quote examples
Ellie Taylor
English Comedian
I feel like the timbre of your voice as a woman doesn't cut through as well as a loud bassy voice, so you need to noticeably speak up.
Quote examples
Julia Holter
American Musician
I listen to the timbre of the music, and I fit my voice to blend with that timbre.
Quote examples
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Japanese Composer
As soon as I choose the timbre of an instrument, that dominates how I compose.
Quote examples
Leonard Mlodinow
American Physicist
The pitch, timbre, volume, speed, and cadence of your voice, the speed with which you speak, and even the way you modulate pitch and loudness, are all hugely influential factors in how convincing you are and how people judge your state of mind and character.
Quote examples
Cynthia Ozick
American Novelist
Sometimes writing has to be forced. In starting out, the shape and timbre and texture of what is to come is an uncertain chimera shimmering from behind a veil. You must not wait, loiter, dilly-dally. You must force your way painfully through.
Quote examples
Karlheinz Stockhausen
German Composer
Or the other process that is important is that I compress longer sections of composed music, either found or made by myself, to such an extent that the rhythm becomes a timbre, and formal subdivisions become rhythm.
Quote examples
Harry Knowles
American Critic
Geekiness is that feeling of overwhelming passion for that thing in life that you focus on. Whether it be a nephew's first few steps or the timbre in one's voice when discussing the latest Cohen brothers film.
Quote examples
Theaster Gates
American Artist
I sometimes am challenged to imagine where the timbre of art should be. Should it be about objects that point to this current moment, or how objects are related to ideas of this current moment?
Quote examples
Ellie Taylor
English Comedian
I feel like the timbre of your voice as a woman doesn't cut through as well as a loud bassy voice, so you need to noticeably speak up.
Quote examples
Julia Holter
American Musician
I listen to the timbre of the music, and I fit my voice to blend with that timbre.
Quote examples
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Japanese Composer
As soon as I choose the timbre of an instrument, that dominates how I compose.
Example 1 of 8
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