loudness

Everyday

How loud a sound is; the strength of a sound that we hear. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on sound: loudness depends on the size (amplitude) of the vibrations — bigger vibrations make louder sounds. It is measured in decibels (dB). Very loud sounds can damage hearing, so wear ear defenders. Loudness is different from pitch (how high or low a sound is).

Examples

• The loudness of a sound is measured in decibels. tree →
• Hitting the drum harder increases its loudness. tree →
• We tested the loudness of different alarms. tree →
• Pitch and loudness are not the same thing. tree →
• The loudness of the concert hurt my ears. tree →
• Turn the loudness down on your headphones. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Opposite: quietness, softness. In science, also called «volume» or measured as «sound level». Trap: a high sound is not always a loud sound — high/low is pitch, loud/quiet is loudness.