Tower of Babel

[ tou-er ]
/ ˈtaʊ ər /

noun

See under Babel2(def 1).

Definition for tower of babel (2 of 2)

Babel 2
[ bey-buhl, bab-uhl ]
/ ˈbeɪ bəl, ˈbæb əl /

noun

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.
(usually lowercase) a confused mixture of sounds or voices.
(usually lowercase) a scene of noise and confusion.

Origin of Babel

2
From the Hebrew word Bābhel Babylon

SYNONYMS FOR Babel

3 tumult, turmoil, uproar, bedlam, clamor.

OTHER WORDS FROM Babel

Ba·bel·ic [bey-bel-ik, ba-] /beɪˈbɛl ɪk, bæ-/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for tower of babel

  • On a nearer view it is more like a Tower-of-Babel concern, with its click and clatter.

    The Christian |Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for tower of babel (1 of 2)

Babel 1
/ (ˈbeɪbəl) /

noun

Old Testament
  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. the city, probably Babylon, in which this tower was supposedly built
(often not capital)
  1. a confusion of noises or voices
  2. a scene of noise and confusion

Word Origin for Babel

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

British Dictionary definitions for tower of babel (2 of 2)

Babel 2
/ (Russian ˈbabɪl) /

noun

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