reverberation time

American  

noun

1. the time it takes for a sound made in a room to diminish by 60 decibels.

---

reverberation time British  

noun

1. a measure of the acoustic properties of a room, equal to the time taken for a sound to fall in intensity by 60 decibels. It is usually measured in seconds

---

Etymology

Origin of reverberation time

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

“Now instead of having about two-tenths of a second of reverberation time, we have 1.4 seconds of reverberation time,” Roy said.

From Washington Post • Sep. 24, 2019

The measurements include frequencies and decibel levels, strength of the sound, reverberation time and the focal points of sound.

From New York Times • Sep. 2, 2016

At Kresge, the reverberation time is 1� seconds, actually a compromise, but unusually sec to conventional ears.

From Time Magazine Archive

Dozens of critics and musicians disputed the long reverberation time, the strident brass, the puddles of aural mud.

From Time Magazine Archive

He was referring to the shorter reverberation time, achieved by acoustical engineers who could prove that it made music sound clearer.

From Time Magazine Archive