timbre

The characteristic quality of a sound that distinguishes different instruments or voices playing the same note at the same volume — what makes a violin sound different from a flute playing the same pitch.

• timbral(adj)音色的

• tonal timbre
• rich timbre
• timbre of the voice
• unique timbre
• timbre and tone colour
• timbral quality

1. 1.A trumpet and a clarinet playing the same note at the same volume sound completely different — that difference is timbre, determined by the unique overtone pattern each instrument produces. (sound quality)
2. 2.Voice recognition technology relies heavily on timbre — each person's voice has a unique timbral fingerprint created by the size and shape of their vocal tract. (acoustic identity)

• tone colour (the quality of a sound)
• tone quality (how a sound sounds)

from French "timbre" (bell struck by a hammer, hence its characteristic sound) — from Greek "tympanon" (drum) — the quality of a struck bell