noun
Common
mel
mehl
Mel (noun) means a unit used to measure the pitch that people perceive, as opposed to the raw physical frequency of a sound. Example: “Audio engineers use the mel scale to model how humans hear pitch.”
noun
1
A unit used to measure the pitch that people perceive, as opposed to the raw physical frequency of a sound.
"Audio engineers use the mel scale to model how humans hear pitch."
"The chart converts frequency in hertz into mels to match human hearing."
"Researchers recorded each listener's pitch judgements in mels."
name
1
A short form of names such as Melanie, Melissa, or Melvin.
"Everyone just calls her Mel for short."
How to use mel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a technical unit for perceived pitch, or a friendly nickname.
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Word forms
- Plural
- mels
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Audio engineers use the _____ scale to model how humans hear pitch.
Etymology
The pitch-unit sense comes from a shortening of "melody"; the name is a diminutive of longer names like Melanie or Melvin.
Frequently asked questions
What does “mel” mean?
The word “mel” means a unit used to measure the pitch that people perceive, as opposed to the raw physical frequency of a sound. In plain terms, either a technical unit for perceived pitch, or a friendly nickname.
How do you pronounce “mel”?
“Mel” is pronounced mehl (/mɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mel” in a sentence?
Here is “mel” used in a sentence: “Audio engineers use the mel scale to model how humans hear pitch.”
What part of speech is “mel”?
Depending on how it is used, “mel” can be a noun and a name.
Is “mel” a common word?
“Mel” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mel” have?
“Mel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a unit used to measure the pitch that people perceive, as opposed to the raw physical frequency of a sound.
What does mel measure?
The mel is a unit used to measure pitch as people actually perceive it, rather than the raw physical frequency of a sound measured in hertz. It is used in fields like acoustics and audio engineering to model human hearing.
Is Mel short for a specific name?
Mel is commonly used as a short form of several names, including Melanie, Melissa, and Melvin. Because it can shorten both male and female names, Mel functions as a unisex nickname.
Why is the mel scale used instead of hertz?
The mel scale is used because human perception of pitch is not linear with physical frequency in hertz, especially at higher frequencies. Measuring in mels better reflects how listeners actually experience differences in pitch.
