Babel

Babel

See also: babel, bąbel, and Bąbel

English

Etymology

    From Latin Babel, from Biblical Hebrew בָּבֶל (bāḇel, Babylon), from Akkadian 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 (Bābilim); in Genesis associated with the idea of confusion. Doublet of Babylon.

    Pronunciation

    Proper noun

    Babel

    1. (biblical) The city and tower in the land of Shinar where the confusion of languages took place, according to the Bible.

    Translations

    Noun

    Babel (plural Babels)

    1. A confused mixture of sounds and voices, especially in different languages. [from 16th c.]
      • 1913 June–December, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York, N.Y.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg, published March 1915, →OCLC:
        As the three were making their way through the crowds of marketers, camels, donkeys, and horses that filled the market place with a confusing babel of sounds, Abdul plucked at Tarzan’s sleeve.
      • 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge, published 2008, page 48:
        A babel of languages could be heard in the streets and the squares, mingling with the local Provençal.
    2. A place or scene of noise and confusion. [from 16th c.]
    3. A tall, looming structure. [from 16th c.]

    Alternative forms

    Derived terms

    See also

    • Wiktionary Babel for user pages

    Anagrams

    Dutch

    Etymology

    From Middle Dutch babel, from Latin Babel, from Biblical Hebrew בָּבֶל (bāḇel, Babylon), from Akkadian 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 (Bābilim).

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /ˈbaː.bəl/
    • Audio:(file)
    • Hyphenation: Ba‧bel

    Proper noun

    Babel n

    1. (historical) Babylon (an ancient city, the ancient capital of Babylonia in modern Iraq, built on the banks of the Euphrates)
      Synonym: Babylon

    Derived terms

    German

    Pronunciation

    Proper noun

    Babel n (proper noun, genitive Babels or (optionally with an article) Babel)

    1. (biblical) Babel

    Declension

    Derived terms

    Further reading

    • Babel” in Duden online
    • Babel”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache[1] (in German)

    Indonesian

    Pronunciation

    • (Standard Indonesian) IPA(key): /ˈbabəl/ [ˈba.bəl]
    • Rhymes: -abəl
    • Syllabification: Ba‧bel

    Etymology 1

    From Dutch Babel, from Middle Dutch babel, from Latin Babel, from Biblical Hebrew בָּבֶל (bāḇel, Babylon), from Akkadian 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 (Bābilim).

    Proper noun

    Babêl

    1. Babel
    Derived terms
    • menara Babel

    Etymology 2

    Proper noun

    Babèl

    1. abbreviation of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Bangka Belitung Islands)

    Further reading

    Polish

    Etymology

      Learned borrowing from Latin Babel. Doublet of Babilon and Babilonia.

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /ˈba.bɛl/
      • Audio:(file)
      • Rhymes: -abɛl
      • Syllabification: Ba‧bel

      Proper noun

      Babel f (indeclinable)

      1. (heraldry, historical) Polish coat of arms of the nobility granted in the Austrian Partition
      2. (biblical) Babel (city and tower in the land of Shinar where the confusion of languages took place, according to the Bible)
        Synonym: wieża Babel

      Further reading

      • Babel”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN[2] (in Polish)

      Spanish

      Etymology

      Borrowed from Latin Babel, from Biblical Hebrew בָּבֶל (bāḇel, Babylon), from Akkadian 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 (Bābilim, gate of God).

      Pronunciation

      • IPA(key): /baˈbel/ [baˈβ̞el]
      • Rhymes: -el
      • Syllabification: Ba‧bel

      Proper noun

      Babel ?

      1. Babel (city and tower)

      Derived terms