Menu

Decibel for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'dɛsə,bɛl

What does Decibel really mean?

45 1
45
Sure, no problem! So, a "decibel" is a unit used to measure the intensity or loudness of sound. It's kind of like how we use inches to measure length or pounds to measure weight.

So, let's break it down. The word "decibel" is made up of two parts: "deci" and "bel." "Deci" means one-tenth, and "bel" is named after Alexander Graham Bell, the guy who invented the telephone. If you think about it, a decibel is like a tiny piece of all the different sounds you hear, just like how a centimeter is a tiny piece of a meter.

When we talk about decibels, we're talking about how strong or weak a sound is. For example, if a sound is really loud, it might be measured at a higher decibel level, like a jet engine or a rock concert. And if a sound is quieter, it might be measured at a lower decibel level, like a whisper or a rustling leaf.

So, let's say we're measuring how loud a car engine is. We might use decibels to tell us if it's a normal, quiet engine or if it's a really loud, rumbly one. Just like how a thermometer tells us if it's hot or cold, decibels tell us if a sound is loud or quiet.

So, in a nutshell, decibels help us figure out how loud or soft a sound is, and they're super important for protecting our ears and understanding the world around us. Cool, right?

Revised and Fact checked by Mike Johnson on 2023-12-14 15:03:50

Decibel In a sentece

Learn how to use Decibel inside a sentece

  • The sound of a whisper is around 30 decibels.
  • A normal conversation is about 60 decibels.
  • A rock concert can reach up to 120 decibels.
  • A jet engine is around 140 decibels, which is very loud.
  • The sound of a firecracker going off is about 140-150 decibels.

Decibel Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

db db

Decibel Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.