# navel

/ˈneɪvəɫ/ (US) · /nˈeɪvəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/navel
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the small hole in the middle of your stomach where you were attached to your mother while you were a baby. It is also called the belly button.

For teachers: the small depression or scar on the abdomen where the umbilical cord was attached during fetal development. Often used in literary or anatomical contexts to refer to the central point of the body.

## Examples

- The baby's navel is still red and sore.
- The surgeon made a small incision just below the navel to access the internal organs.
- In many ancient cultures, the navel was considered the center of the body and the point from which life energy flowed outward to the limbs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.