babel

name

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

   “Therefore is the name of it called Babel[…]”

noun

1. A confused mixture of sounds and voices, especially in different languages.

   “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.”

   “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.
3. A tall, looming structure.
4. (alt-of, alternative, uncountable, usually)Alternative form of Babel.
5. (uncountable, usually)A confused noise made by a number of voices.

   “I closed the door hurriedly on the babel and groped my way back to bed. At that moment bed seemed to be the one safe, comforting thing in my whole baffling environment.”

   “He had already demanded the attention of the manager, Professor Bulge, Draycott and two underlings to his case and they were now involved in a babel of inutile reiteration.”

   “[…] up in front the third and fourth class passengers were making a babel of noise as they either detrained or entrained together with their large families and strange collection of parcels, bundles and earthenware jars.”