decibel (dB)

A decibel (dB) is a unit that measures the intensity or level of sound, or the power of a signal, relative to a reference point. It is a logarithmic scale, meaning that an increase of 10 dB represents a tenfold increase in intensity. For example, normal conversation is around 60 dB, while a jet engine at takeoff can reach 120 dB. Decibels help compare sound levels easily across a wide range, making it simpler to understand how loud or powerful a noise or signal is in context.