Word
umbilical
Phoneticsum·bil·i·cal, stress on the second syllable
US/əmˈbɪɫɪkəɫ/
UK/ʌmbˈɪlɪkəl/
Definition
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.
Examples
“The doctor carefully cut the umbilical cord after the birth.”
“The small colony maintained an umbilical connection to the mainland through a single daily supply flight.”
“In aerospace engineering, an umbilical cable provides essential power and data to a rocket on the launch pad until the moment of ignition.”
Examples
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.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun, most commonly in the fixed phrase 'umbilical cord'.
Real-World Examples
“PFAS can even cross the placenta and have been detected in umbilical cord blood and breast milk , exposing people at particularly sensitive stages of development, the report stressed.” “Surgeons would then connect the tiny blood vessels of the baby's umbilical cord to an Ecmo-like device.” “The moment the umbilical cord is cut, the placenta’s influence on our well-being is severed too.” “This vital umbilical cord to the world above carried power, communications, heat and air to his diving suit 100m (328ft) below the surface of the sea.” Etymology
From Latin umbilicus (“navel”) + -al. By surface analysis, umbilic- + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/umbilical