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bel

1 American  
[bel] / bɛl /

noun

Physics.

  1. a unit of power ratio, equal to 10 decibels.

bel 2 American  
[bel] / bɛl /

noun

  1. bael.

Bel. 3 American  

abbreviation

  1. Belgian.

  2. Belgic.

  3. Belgium.

Bel 1 British  
/ beɪl /

noun

  1. (in Babylonian and Assyrian mythology) the god of the earth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bel 2 British  
/ bɛl /

noun

  1. Symbols: B.   b.  a unit for comparing two power levels, equal to the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of the two powers See also decibel

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bel Scientific  
/ bĕl /

  1. A unit of measurement equal to ten decibels.

Etymology

Origin of bel

First recorded in 1925–30; named after A. G. Bell

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As with stocks, a panic is the worst time to offload your private-credit exposure, said David Sadkin, president at Bel Air Investment Advisors.

From The Wall Street Journal

It runs from Feb. 26-28, and features a strong list of solo presentations from galleries, including Bel Ami, CASTLE, Mariposa, Marta and others.

From Los Angeles Times

Gamco Investors did so through the sale of 14,988 Bel Fuse shares from Dec. 9, 2025, through Jan. 27, 2026, at per share prices ranging from $145.78 to $191.20.

From Barron's

Following the latest sales, Gamco Investors continues to own 5.8% of Bel Fuse’s outstanding stock.

From Barron's

Shares of Bel Fuse have gained approximately 22.5% in value in 2026.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.