Babel

¹

[ bab-uhl; Russian bah-byil ]

noun

1. I·saak Em·ma·nu·i·lo·vich [ahy, -z, uh, k, ee-, sahk, yi-m, uh, -noo-, yee, -l, uh, -vyich], 1894–1941, Russian author.

Babel

²

[ bey-buhl, bab-uhl ]

noun

1. (in the Bible) an ancient city in the land of Shinar in which the building of a tower Tower of Babel intended to reach heaven was begun and the confusion of the language of the people took place.
2. (usually lowercase) a confused mixture of sounds or voices.
3. (usually lowercase) a scene of noise and confusion.

   Synonyms: clamor, bedlam, uproar, turmoil, tumult

Babel

¹

/ ˈbabɪl /

noun

1. BabelIssak Emmanuilovich18941941MRussianWRITING: short-story writer Issak Emmanuilovich (iˈsak imənuˈiləvitʃ) 1894–1941, Russian short-story writer, whose works include Stories from Odessa (1924) and Red Cavalry (1926)

Babel

²

/ ˈbeɪbəl /

noun

1. Old Testament
   1. Also calledTower of Babel a tower presumptuously intended to reach from earth to heaven, the building of which was frustrated when Jehovah confused the language of the builders (Genesis 11:1–9)
   2. the city, probably Babylon, in which this tower was supposedly built
2. often not capital
   1. a confusion of noises or voices
   2. a scene of noise and confusion

Other Words From

• Ba·bel·ic [bey-, bel, -ik, ba-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Babel¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin, from Hebrew Bābhel “Babylon,” from Akkadian bāb-ilim “the gate of the god”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Babel¹

from Hebrew Bābhél , from Akkadian Bāb-ilu , literally: gate of God

Example Sentences

“The grocery store has become a Tower of Babel and consumers need to be linguists, scientists and mind readers to understand the many labels they see.”

From Salon

Most recently, the cardinal held a conference called The Synodal Babel in Rome on the eve of the Pope's synod, or meeting of bishops, last month.

From BBC

One publication, Babel, cited an unidentified source who said Budanova had been in hospital, and was finishing a course of treatment for the effects of the poisoning.

From Reuters

One publication, Babel, cited an unnamed source who said Budanova had been in hospital, and was finishing a course of treatment for the effects of the poisoning.

From Reuters

Marianna Budanova was taken to hospital after feeling unwell for a "prolonged period of time", news website Babel said, quoting intelligence officials.

From BBC