Umbilicus

Quick meaning: Umbilicus is a noun meaning (anatomy) A navel.

Meaning

(anatomy) A navel.

More Meanings

1. (loosely, sometimes proscribed) Umbilical cord
2. (botany) A hilum.
3. (zoology) A depression or opening in the center of the base of many spiral shells.
4. (zoology) Either of the two apertures in the calamus of a feather.
5. (space science) A tube connecting an astronaut or spacecraft to the mothership, through which supplies and samples can be transferred.
6. (geometry, obsolete) One of the foci of an ellipse or other curve.
7. (geometry) A point of a surface at which the curvatures of the normal sections are all equal to each other.

Example Sentences

A sphere may be osculatory to the surface in every direction at an umbilicus.

Then he tied the umbilicus in two places, using bits of Manila twine, and made his cut between them.

Penetrators will be connected by an umbilicus to an afterbody containing imaging and meteorological instruments.

How about a 270 mile tether to an orbiting satellite? Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? Frank! Prepare to receive the umbilicus!

Word Forms

• umbilici
• umbilicuses

Synonyms for umbilicus

Depending on context, synonyms include omphalos, omphalus, navel, bellybutton.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include bellybutton, navel, omphalus, omphalos, cotyledon, umbilic.

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