Ma'anar "matakin matsa lamba" yana nufin matakin ƙarfi ko damuwa akan wani abu, abu, ko tsari. A cikin mahallin ilimin kimiyyar lissafi, ana auna matakin matsa lamba sau da yawa a cikin raka'a na matsa lamba, kamar Pascals ko fam kowane inci murabba'i (psi). Hakanan yana iya komawa ga matakin damuwa, tashin hankali, ko buƙatun da ake yi wa mutum ko ƙungiya a yanayi daban-daban, kamar a wurin aiki, a cikin wasanni, ko cikin alaƙar mutum.