“Timber” or “Timbre”—Which to use?

“Timber” or “Timbre”

Overview

timber / timbre are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

timber: (noun) a beam made of wood. (noun) a post made of wood.

timbre: (noun) (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound).

Pronunciation

timber: t·IH·m·b·er

timbre: t·IH·m·b·er

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Examples in Context

Examples of “timber”

This small timber building was erected in mid-1913…
…a curved corrugated iron awning, timber posts, cross-braced balustrade and central
…a strong position in heavy timber at Horseshoe Bend.
…which are sources of food, timber, fuel wood and other products,…
A decrease in allowed timber harvest could be a solution…
…Côte d'Ivoire, due to agriculture, timber extraction, and human settlement.
…stone and each piece of timber to correspond with drawings which…
…buildings, all of which are timber framed.
…plates are used to connect timber of the same thickness in…
…the north has a central timber door accessed via a timber

Examples of “timbre”

…voice, electrifying top notes, clear timbre, passionate singing and remarkable performances.
…Moffatt play perfectly synchronized in timbre and expression’, while CD Classico…
…personality and uses the distinct timbre of each flute to express…
…Chinese and Western approaches to timbre, melody and hormone, oscillating between…
…of each instrument, modifies their timbre and transforms the sonic plane.
…bottom side to ensure good timbre.

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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