Noun

A decibel (dB) is a unit used to express the ratio of two values of a physical quantity, usually power or intensity. In particular, it is often used to express the relative loudness of sounds, and is defined as one-tenth of a bel, which is a unit that expresses the ratio of two values on a logarithmic scale. The decibel scale is logarithmic, which means that a difference of 10 dB represents a tenfold change in the intensity of the sound, and a difference of 20 dB represents a hundredfold change. The decibel scale is commonly used in acoustics, telecommunications, electronics, and other fields where large ratios of values need to be expressed.

Example

1. The decibel level of the concert was so high that I had to wear earplugs to protect my hearing.
2. The noise from the construction site exceeded the legal limit of 85 decibels, prompting complaints from nearby residents.
3. The volume of the television was set to 60 decibels, which was comfortable for the family to watch without causing any disturbance to the neighbors.