Definition

A unit of measurement used to express the intensity or power of sound or electrical signals, often used to compare two levels of sound or signal strength.

Example

The sound of the music was measured at 85 decibels, which is quite loud.

Conversation

Did you know that normal conversation is around 60 decibels?

Really? I always thought it was louder than that.

Yeah, and a rock concert can go over 120 decibels!

That’s crazy! No wonder my ears ring after a show.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Decibel is formed from "deci-" (meaning one-tenth) and "bel" (after Alexander Graham Bell, a unit of sound intensity). The word decibel refers to a unit that measures sound intensity, specifically one-tenth of a bel.

Memory Tip

Think of 'deci-' meaning one-tenth and 'bel' as a unit named after Alexander Graham Bell, which helps you remember that a decibel measures sound intensity in tenths of a bel.

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