noun

Babel

BAY-bl

Babel (noun) means a confused, noisy mixture of voices or languages. Example: “The market was a babel of languages and haggling voices.”

noun

A confused, noisy mixture of voices or languages.

"The market was a babel of languages and haggling voices."

A scene of noise, confusion, or disorder.

"The office turned into a babel the moment the fire alarm went off."

How to Use Babel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA jumble of confusing noise or many languages spoken at once, from the biblical story of the Tower of Babel.

Common pairings

a babel of voices a babel of languages

Word Forms

Babels plural

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The market was a _____ of languages and haggling voices.

Etymology

From the biblical Tower of Babel, where, according to Genesis, God confused human languages so builders could no longer understand one another.

Rhymes for Babel

Abel label Mabel Isabel Anabel Annabel Schnabel Christabel

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Babel” mean?

The word “Babel” means a confused, noisy mixture of voices or languages. In plain terms, a jumble of confusing noise or many languages spoken at once, from the biblical story of the Tower of Babel.

How do you pronounce “Babel”?

“Babel” is pronounced BAY-bl (/ˈbeɪ.bl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “Babel” in a sentence?

Here is “Babel” used in a sentence: “The market was a babel of languages and haggling voices.”

What part of speech is “Babel”?

“Babel” is a noun.

How many meanings does “Babel” have?

“Babel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a confused, noisy mixture of voices or languages.