babel: [14] According to Genesis 11: 1–9, the tower of Babel was built in Shinar by the descendants of Noah in an attempt to reach heaven. Angered at their presumption, God punished the builders by making them unable to understand each other’s speech: hence, according to legend, the various languages of the world. Hence, too, the metaphorical application of babel to a ‘confused medley of sounds’, which began in English in the 16th century.
The word has no etymological connection with ‘language’ or ‘noise’, however. The original Assyrian bāb-ilu meant ‘gate of god’, and this was borrowed into Hebrew as bābel (from which English acquired the word). The later Greek version is Babylon. => babylon
Babel
capital of Babylon, late 14c., from Hebrew Babhel (Gen. xi), from Akkadian bab-ilu "Gate of God" (from bab "gate" + ilu "god"). The name is a translation of Sumerian Ka-dingir. Meaning "confused medley of sounds" (1520s) is from the biblical story of the Tower of Babel.
双语例句
1. The result was a mishmash a Babel - like mix .
结果产生出一种巴别( Babel )式的语言大杂烩.
来自互联网
2. Amid the babel of voices, Hurstwood heard one close beside him.
在一片混乱声中, 赫斯渥听到一个声音就在他身边说话.
来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
3. At this the babel of voices broke loose again.
以后就又是庞杂的四个人同时说话的声音.
来自子夜部分
4. A babel of voices could be heard from the schoolroom.
可以听见教室里一阵嘈杂的声音.
来自辞典例句
5. A babel of voices could be heard from the street.