Babel
1[ bab-uh l; Russian bah-byil ]
/ ˈbæb əl; Russian ˈbɑ byɪl /
noun
I·saak Em·ma·nu·i·lo·vich [ahy-zuh k; Russian ee-sahk yi-muh-noo-yee-luh-vyich] /ˈaɪ zək; Russian iˈsɑk yɪ mə nuˈyi lə vyɪtʃ/, 1894–1941, Russian author.
Definition for babel (2 of 2)
Babel
2[ bey-buhl, bab-uhl ]
/ ˈbeɪ bəl, ˈbæb əl /
noun
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. Gen. 11:4–9.
(usually lowercase) a confused mixture of sounds or voices.
(usually lowercase) a scene of noise and confusion.
Origin of Babel
2From the Hebrew word Bābhel Babylon
Related forms
Ba·bel·ic [bey-bel-ik, ba-] /beɪˈbɛl ɪk, bæ-/, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for babel
British Dictionary definitions for babel (1 of 2)
Babel
1/ (ˈbeɪbəl) /
noun
Old Testament
- Also called: Tower 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)
- the city, probably Babylon, in which this tower was supposedly built
(often not capital)
- a confusion of noises or voices
- a scene of noise and confusion
Word Origin for Babel
from Hebrew Bābhél, from Akkadian Bāb-ilu, literally: gate of God
British Dictionary definitions for babel (2 of 2)
Babel
2/ (Russian ˈbabɪl) /
noun
Issak Emmanuilovich (iˈsak imənuˈiləvitʃ) 1894–1941, Russian short-story writer, whose works include Stories from Odessa (1924) and Red Cavalry (1926)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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