babel

UK: /ˈbeɪb^əl/ US: /ˈbeɪbəl, ˈbæbəl/ ,(bā′bəl, bab′əl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ba•bel /ˈbeɪbəl, ˈbæbəl/   n. 

1. [count;
   usually singular] a confused mixture of sounds or voices:
   a babel of delegates' voices.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Ba•bel  (bā′bəl, bab′əl), n. 

1. 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. Gen. 11:4–9.
2. (usually l.c.) a confused mixture of sounds or voices.
3. (usually l.c.) a scene of noise and confusion.

• Hebrew Bābhel Babylon

Ba•bel•ic  (bā bel′ik, ba-), adj.  Synonyms

• 3. tumult, turmoil, uproar, bedlam, clamor.

Ba•bel  (bab′əl; Russ. bä′byil), n. 

I•saak Em•ma•nu•i•lo•vich  (ī′zək; Russ. ē säk′ yi mə no̅o̅ yē′lə vyich), 1894–1941, Russian author.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Babel / ˈbeɪb^əl/ noun

1. 
   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)
2. (often not capital) a confusion of noises or voices
3. a scene of noise and confusion

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

Babel / ˈbabɪl/ noun

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