| word | decibel |
|---|---|
| definition | A unit based on a scale ranging from 0 to about 130 used to measure the loudness of sound, with 0 indicating the least sound that can be heard and 130 the average level that causes pain. |
| eg_sentence | She worries about the damage that high decibel levels can cause, and always wears ear protection when mowing the lawn. |
| explanation | The bel in decibel honors the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell. Decibels work on a logarithmic scale (you may need to look up logarithm), so 20 decibels is 10 times as strong as 10 decibels, and 50 decibels is 1,000 times as strong as 20 decibels. The decibel readings of some everyday sounds make for interesting comparisons. Whispers and rustling leaves usually register under 20 decibels, the average level of conversation is about 50 decibels, and noisy factories or office machinery may have decibel levels of 90 to 100. In the category of sounds between 100 and 120 decibels, which can eventually cause deafness, we find elevated trains, artillery—and rock concerts |
| IPA | ˈdɛsəˌbɛl |
Tags: mwvb::unit:19, mwvb::unit:19:word, mwvb::word, mwvb::word-cloze, mwvb::word-reverse, obsidian_to_anki
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Decimate decimated populations roman reduce drastically destroy developments
Previous card: Decathlon olympic run modern high throw winner athlete
Up to card list: Merriam-Webster Vocabulary Builder LITE (English)