timbre

11.09  timbre. That multidimensional attribute of auditory sensation which enables a listener to judge that two non-identical sounds, similarly presented and having the same loudness, pitch, spatial location, and duration, are dissimilar. Timbre is related to sound quality, often specified by qualitative adjectives (e.g., bright or dull).

Annotation              The timbre of a sound is strongly influenced by its time-varying characteristics, particularly during the initial portion (attack), and is also influenced by its ongoing spectral and temporal characteristics.      Timbre is an essential element in the identification of the source of a sound (e.g., particular musical instrument[s]) and the manner of sound production.