bel

Everyday

1. A unit for measuring how loud a sound is or comparing power levels; one bel is ten decibels. tree →
2. (a name) Bel, a short form of names like Isabel or Belinda. tree →
3. In old stories, Bel is the name of an ancient Babylonian god (Bible: «Bel and the Dragon»). tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on sound, you nearly always meet the decibel (dB), which is one tenth of a bel; the bel itself is rarely used. It was named after Alexander Graham Bell, who worked on the telephone. In everyday life «Bel» is usually a nickname.

Examples

• One bel equals ten decibels. tree →
• Sound levels are usually measured in decibels, not bels. tree →
• The bel was named after Alexander Graham Bell. tree →
• My friend Isabel likes to be called Bel. tree →
• A whisper is about two bels, or twenty decibels. tree →
• In the Bible story, Daniel showed that the idol Bel did not really eat food. tree →

Note

Countable: a bel, bels; symbol B. Usually lower case as a unit, capital as a name. Homophone trap: «bel» sounds like «bell» (which rings). In maths: to change bels to decibels, multiply by 10 (3 bels = 30 dB). Each extra bel means ten times more sound power.

In Jewish tradition

Bel is the Babylonian god, whose name means "lord." The prophets speak of him as a false idol that cannot save Babylon.

Interpretation. The prophets mock Bel as a helpless idol that will fall with Babylon, while the LORD is the only true God.

Examples

• Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle; the things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary beast. (Prophets ISA.46.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• Declare ye among the nations and announce, and set up a standard; announce, and conceal not; say: 'Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed; her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.' (Prophets JER.50.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up, and the nations shall not flow any more unto him; yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall. (Prophets JER.51.44, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a bel, bels; symbol B. Usually lower case as a unit, capital as a name. Homophone trap: «bel» sounds like «bell» (which rings). In maths: to change bels to decibels, multiply by 10 (3 bels = 30 dB). Each extra bel means ten times more sound power.