bel

• Nom masculin désignant d'une part une unité logarithmique de mesure de l'intensité sonore, équivalant à dix décibels, et d'autre part le nom d'une divinité babylonienne de la terre, membre de la triade suprême avec Anu et Ea, autrefois identifié à Enlil.

A noun with two distinct meanings: a logarithmic unit used to measure sound intensity, equal to 10 decibels; and the name of a Babylonian god of the earth, part of the supreme triad alongside Anu and Ea, earlier identified with En-lil.

nom propre

1. Unit of sound intensityC1formalscientific

   A logarithmic unit used to measure the ratio of two quantities, such as sound intensity or power levels, equal to 10 decibels.

   bel

   • The sound level was measured at 3 bels.
   • A difference of 1 bel corresponds to a tenfold increase in power.
   • Engineers often use the bel to compare signal strengths.

2. Babylonian deityC2formal

   A major god in Babylonian mythology, associated with the earth and considered one of the supreme triad alongside Anu and Ea; originally identified with the Sumerian god Enlil.

   Bêl (divinité babylonienne)

   • Bel was worshipped as the lord of the earth in ancient Mesopotamia.
   • The temple of Bel was a central religious site in Babylon.
   • Myths describe Bel as a powerful deity who controlled the forces of nature.