adj
umbilical
uhm-BIH-lih-kuhl
adj
1
Relating to the navel or the umbilical cord that connects a fetus to the placenta.
"The umbilical cord was clamped shortly after birth."
noun
1
A cable or cord connecting a spacecraft or astronaut to a support system, especially before launch or during a spacewalk.
"Technicians disconnected the umbilical seconds before liftoff."
How to Use Umbilical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with the navel/umbilical cord — or, by extension, a supply cord linking a spacecraft to ground equipment.
Common pairings
umbilical cord
Word Forms
umbilicals plural
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The _____ cord was clamped shortly after birth.
Etymology
From Latin "umbilicus", meaning "navel", plus the adjective suffix "-al".