umbilical adjective & noun. [ʌm'bɪlɪk(ǝ)l, ʌmbɪ'lʌɪk(ǝ)l] M16.
[Obsolete French (now ombilical), formed as UMBILIC: see -AL¹.]
A. adjective.
1. Of or pertaining to the umbilicus or navel. M16.
umbilical artery, umbilical hernia, umbilical vein, etc.
b. Conchology. Possessing, pertaining to, or of the nature of an umbilicus. M18.

2. Math.
a. umbilical point, a focal point. Only in E18.
b. Designating or pertaining to a point on a surface where the curvature is zero or spherical (i.e. the curvature in all directions is equal). M19.

3. Occupying a central point or position. Now rare. M18.

4. Resembling or acting as an umbilical cord; connecting a person or device to a source of essential supplies, services, etc. M20.
umbilical connection, umbilical pipe, etc.
New Scientist The Buggy is connected to a BBC computer by an umbilical cable.
Special collocations: umbilical cord (a) Anatomy & Zoology the flexible cordlike structure by which a human or other mammalian foetus is attached to the placenta and through which it is nourished; (b) Zoology a similar cord connecting a bird or reptile embryo to the yolk-sac in the egg; (c) Botany (now rare or obsolete) the funicle of a seed; (d) fig. a cable, pipe, or similar linking device by which electrical power or other essential services and supplies are transferred, e.g. between a guided missile and its launcher, an astronaut and a spacecraft, a deep-sea diver and the surface, etc.
b. noun.
1. Anatomy. In pl. The umbilical blood-vessels. rare. L18.

2. An umbilical connection, pipe, line, etc. M20.

■ umbilically adverb by means of an umbilicus, or an umbilical cord or connection; as regards, or as if attached by, an umbilical connection: E19.

■ umbilicar adjective of or pertaining to an umbilicus or (Math.) an umbilical point M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲