What does decibel mean?
Word: Decibel
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Decibel means a unit that tells you how loud a sound is.
How do you spell decibel?
Syllables: dec - i - bel
Tricky part: The ending is -bel, not -ble, so decible is the usual slip, even though the ending of audible looks similar.
Watch out for: decible, decibell
Memory tip: The unit is named after Alexander Graham Bell, but he loses one of his two l's: keep just one at the end.
Decibel in a sentence
Example 1: The band's decibel level rose as the crowd cheered.
Example 2: Our science project recorded the decibel readings in the canteen at lunchtime.
Example 3: Most people barely notice a change of one decibel.
Fun Fact
The scale does not climb evenly: a sound that is 10 decibels higher carries ten times as much energy.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
d_c_bel
a) a, i
b) e, e
c) i, i
d) e, i
Show answer
d) e, i. The vowels are e and then i: both can be heard clearly in the opening beats.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
deccibel
a) b
b) d
c) c
d) l
Show answer
c) c. The c stands alone in this word.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Normal talk measures about 60 on the cdeelbi scale.
a) decade
b) decimal
c) deceive
d) decibel
Show answer
d) decibel. Decibel is the only option with a b.
Spell-o-Spell
Find the misspelt word in the list and pick its meaning.
1. desibel 2. frequency 3. vibration 4. acoustics
a) the number of sound waves made each second
b) the way sound behaves in a room
c) the unit for the strength of a noise
d) a rapid shaking movement
Show answer
c) the unit for the strength of a noise. The s sound in the word is a c, as it is in decimal.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which would give the highest decibel reading?
a) a jet aeroplane taking off nearby
b) a light breeze rustling the leaves
c) a clock ticking on the shelf
d) a whisper in a quiet library
Show answer
a) a jet aeroplane taking off nearby
2. A decibel meter would be most useful for ____.
a) finding the depth of a village well
b) timing the runners in a school race
c) weighing the bags on a passenger bus
d) checking noise levels near a busy road
Show answer
d) checking noise levels near a busy road
