ENGLISH
REFERENCE

umbilical

adj.
C1 Advanced US //əmˈbɪɫɪkəɫ// UK //ʌmbˈɪlɪkəl// um·bil·i·cal

adj. relating to the cord that connects a baby to its mother before birth. It can also describe a very strong connection between two things that depend on each other.

adj. relating to the cord connecting a fetus to the placenta, or describing a central, vital connection between two entities. Often used in technical medical contexts or as a metaphor for deep dependency.


SIMPLE

The doctor carefully cut the umbilical cord after the birth.

CONTEXTUAL

The small colony maintained an umbilical connection to the mainland through a single daily supply flight.

COMPLEX

In aerospace engineering, an umbilical cable provides essential power and data to a rocket on the launch pad until the moment of ignition.

Origin

From Latin umbilicus (“navel”) + -al. By surface analysis, umbilic- + -al.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun, most commonly in the fixed phrase 'umbilical cord'.

Idioms1 entry

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