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Translation

Also found in: French - Vietnamese

bel

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The word "bel" can have a few different meanings, but let's focus on the most common ones to help you understand.

Basic Definition:
  1. Bel (noun): In a scientific context, "bel" is a unit of measurement for sound intensity. It measures how loud a sound is. One "bel" is equal to ten "decibels" (dB), which is a smaller unit. For example, if you have a sound that is 10 decibels, that is the same as saying it is 1 bel.
Usage Instructions:
  • When talking about sound, you can use "bel" to describe loudness, but it's more common to use "decibel" in everyday conversations.
  • You might see "bel" in scientific or technical contexts, like physics or acoustics.
Example:
  • "The sound of the concert was measured at 3 bels, which means it was quite loud."
Advanced Usage:
  • In professional fields like audio engineering or physics, you might encounter "bel" when discussing sound levels more precisely. However, most people will use "decibels" in daily life.
Word Variants:
  • Decibel (dB): This is the more commonly used term in everyday situations. One bel equals 10 decibels.
  • The word "bel" itself doesn't have many variants, but it’s important to know its relationship with "decibel."
Different Meanings:
  • In a historical or mythological context, "Bel" can also refer to a Babylonian god associated with earth, part of a trio of important deities (along with Anu and Ea). However, this usage is not common in everyday English.
Synonyms:
  • For the sound measurement context, there aren't direct synonyms, but you can think of "loudness" or "volume" as related concepts.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
  • There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly use "bel," as it is primarily a technical term.
Noun
  1. Babylonian god of the earth; one of the supreme triad including Anu and Ea; earlier identified with En-lil
  2. a logarithmic unit of sound intensity equal to 10 decibels

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