Babel

noun

Ba·​bel ˈbā-bəl  ˈba- 

1

: a city in Shinar where the building of a tower is held in Genesis to have been halted by the confusion of tongues

2

or babel

a

: a confusion of sounds or voices

b

: a scene of noise or confusion

Synonyms

• bedlam
• circus
• madhouse
• scrum [British]
• three-ring circus

Examples of Babel in a Sentence

on opening day the area's newest big-box store was an incredible babel

the babel of wheeling and dealing that can be heard at the stock exchange every day

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Hebrew Bābhel, from Akkadian bāb-ilu gate of god

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Babel

• tower of Babel

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Kids Definition

babel

noun

ba·​bel

ˈbā-bəl,

ˈbab-əl

often capitalized

1

: a confusion of sounds or voices

2

: a scene of noise or confusion

Etymology

from the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:4–9, the building of which was interrupted by a confusion of languages