babels
|ba-bels|
/ˈbeɪbəlz/
(babel)
confused multitude of voices
Etymology
'babel' originates from Hebrew, specifically the word 'Babel' (Hebrew: 'Bāḇel') and from Akkadian 'Bab-ilu', where 'bab' meant 'gate' and 'ilu' meant 'god'.
'babel' changed from the Biblical place name 'Babel' (the site of the Tower of Babel) in Biblical Hebrew into Middle English 'babel' and eventually became the modern English noun meaning 'confused noise' or 'confusion of languages.'
Initially, it referred to the place name 'Babel' in the Biblical story; over time it evolved to mean 'a confusing mixture of voices or languages' (and by extension, any noisy confusion).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'babel': a scene of noisy confusion, especially of voices or languages (a confused mixture of sounds or voices).
From the square came babels of shouting and laughter.
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Verb 1
third-person singular present of 'babel': utters or produces confused or unintelligible sounds; to speak or make noise in a way that produces confusion.
She babels whenever she's excited, so listeners often lose track of her point.
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Last updated: 2025/12/23 07:32