noun
bel
behl
noun
1
A unit for measuring the ratio between two power levels, calculated as the base-10 logarithm of one divided by the other.
"Sound engineers usually work in decibels rather than whole bels, since a bel is a fairly large jump in loudness."
How to Use Bel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA unit used to compare how much stronger one signal or sound is than another, on a logarithmic scale.
Common mistake
In everyday use you will almost always see "decibel" (one tenth of a bel), not "bel" on its own.
Word Forms
bels plural, Bels plural
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Sound engineers usually work in decibels rather than whole _____, since a bel is a fairly large jump in loudness.
Etymology
Named after Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor associated with the telephone.