umbilical
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of an umbilicus or umbilical cord.
-
joined together by or as if by an umbilical cord; heavily dependent in a close relationship.
-
adjacent to or located near the navel; central to the abdomen.
the umbilical region.
-
serving as or containing a conduit through which power is transferred, especially to a unit that will be or is designed to be ultimately self-sufficient or independent.
an umbilical cable for launching a rocket; an umbilical plug for starting jet engines.
noun
adjective
-
of, relating to, or resembling the umbilicus or the umbilical cord
-
in the region of the umbilicus
an umbilical hernia
noun
Other Word Forms
- nonumbilical adjective
- postumbilical adjective
- subumbilical adjective
- umbilically adverb
Etymology
Origin of umbilical
1535–45; < Medieval Latin umbilīcālis, equivalent to Latin umbilīc ( us ) ( umbilicus ) + -ālis -al 1
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.
The show pairs the painting with a Kiki Smith sculpture, created over five decades later, that portrays the papery form of a woman from the waist down, her fetus dangling by an umbilical cord.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026
Each child had detectable levels of CPF in their umbilical cord blood at birth and underwent brain imaging and behavioral assessments between the ages of 6 and 14.
From Science Daily • Nov. 7, 2025
On the other hand, a 2020 study that measured acetaminophen in umbilical cord blood did find a dose-dependent association with autism.
From Slate • Sep. 26, 2025
Okula said he cut Crew’s umbilical cord and the doctor let him know Hailey was doing great and he could wait for her in the next room with the baby.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2025
“What are we going to do with this?” he asked, holding up the piece of umbilical cord that had been closest to the baby.
From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston
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.
