Decibel

usgb/ˈdesɪbel/
noun

A unit for measuring how loud a sound is.

The noise of the jet engine was over 120 decibels.
Visual representation of "decibel" - A unit for measuring how loud a sound is.

Often appears as...

  • decibel level
  • decibel range

Usage tips

Technical

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "decibel"
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Volume Measurement

Decibels quantify sound volume, with higher values indicating louder sounds.

Illustration for Volume Measurement
Whispers are around 30 decibels.
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Threshold of Pain

Pain threshold begins at around 120 decibels for humans, so anything above can be harmful.

Illustration for Threshold of Pain
A rock concert can hit 120 decibels, requiring ear protection.
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Logarithmic Scale

Decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale, so each 10-decibel increase represents a tenfold increase in intensity.

Illustration for Logarithmic Scale
60 decibels is ten times louder than 50 decibels.
Visual representation of the word "Decibel"

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