Final answer:
The quality of a sound, which is affected by its frequency, amplitude, and timing, leading to its distinctive character, is known as timbre.
Step-by-step explanation:
The texture, color, or quality of a sound is called its timbre. Timbre refers to the unique quality of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds of the same pitch and loudness. It is the result of the complex interplay of frequency, amplitude, and timing of sound waves that an instrument produces. For example, a violin and a piano can both play the same note at the same volume, but the sound each makes will be noticeably different due to the instruments' distinct timbres. The timbre of a sound can be described using terms such as dull, brilliant, warm, cold, pure, or rich, reflecting the subjective nature of this sound property.