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
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of, relating to, or resembling the umbilicus or the umbilical cord
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in the region of the umbilicus
an umbilical hernia
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of umbilical
1535–45; < Medieval Latin umbilīcālis, equivalent to Latin umbilīc ( us ) ( see umbilicus) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
In medicine, anything having to do with the belly button or the cord that connects a newborn baby's navel to the placenta is umbilical. One thing all prenatal mammals have in common is an umbilical cord attached to a placenta. It's how they receive nutrients and eliminate waste before they're born. Evidence of your umbilical cord is your navel, or belly button. Whenever you see the adjective umbilical, you know it either has to do with that cord, or figuratively, someone or something extremely close or connected: "Her relationship with her best friend is umbilical."
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.
Umbilical cords dangle from their bellies, and when the fetuses break into song, they like to hold those cords up like make-believe microphones.
From New York Times • Jan. 24, 2023
Umbilical cord blood is more widely available than the adult stem cells previously used and it does not require as close a match between donor and recipient.
From BBC • Feb. 16, 2022
Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation around the world has increased by 300% over the past 13 years.
From The Guardian • Aug. 16, 2018
Umbilical cords are nutrient-rich and contain stem cells that can be used to treat people suffering from leukemia and lymphoma, among other disorders and diseases.
From Washington Times • Sep. 27, 2015
Umbilical hernia may be classed under three heads: congenital, infantile, and adult.
From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)
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.
