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• bel
  bel

  noun

  a unit of power ratio, equal to 10 decibels.
• Bel.
  Bel.

  abbreviation

  Belgian.
• Bel
  Bel

  noun

  (in Babylonian and Assyrian mythology) the god of the earth

bel

¹ American  

[bel] / bɛl /

noun

Physics.

1. a unit of power ratio, equal to 10 decibels.

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bel ² American  

[bel] / bɛl /

noun

1. bael.

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Bel. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Belgian.

2. Belgic.

3. Belgium.

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bel ¹ British  

/ bɛl /

noun

1. Symbols: B, b. a unit for comparing two power levels, equal to the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of the two powers See also decibel

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Bel ² British  

/ beɪl /

noun

1. (in Babylonian and Assyrian mythology) the god of the earth

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bel Scientific  

/ bĕl /

1. A unit of measurement equal to ten decibels.

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Etymology

Origin of bel

First recorded in 1925–30; named after A. G. Bell

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bel Bel. Bel

The score calls for a large cast with serious bel canto skills, and Opera Philadelphia’s lineup delivered.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2025

Her voice settled down in the second act, and she brought an appropriately old-fashioned feeling to “Un bel di,” her anticipation of a fine day as hopelessly unreal as everything on the stage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2024

“Barber” is one of the most famous operas written in the bel canto style.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2024

Born in New York in December 1923 to Greek parents, Callas was credited with reviving almost single-handedly the Italian bel canto vocal technique.

From Reuters ● Nov. 9, 2023

The goblet will still be in his room tomorrow, it must bel Let him hide it ever so well, I will find it somehow.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

—Hah—hum—what's here— Bel. snatches her to his Bosom, as if she fainted.

From The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III by Montague Summers

He hoped Bel. would honour him with his company at the small card-party he was giving there on Thursday.

From The Black Moth A Romance of the XVIIIth Century by Georgette Heyer

The 21-year-old grew up in Bel Air, where his parents, Bahar Soomekh and Clayton Frech, own a four-bedroom property tucked away in the hills above Los Angeles.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

Bel was not a criminal or “the worst of the worst.”

From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026

The subject was in the headlines again this week when Bel Powley, who plays Petunia Dursley, told the Telegraph, external she "strongly disagrees" with the author.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

Mr. Winnick paid more than $60 million for a home in Bel Air.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026

They were having a big old party every night, compliments of their pal Bel.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

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