umbilicus

[uhm-bil-i-kuh s, uhm-buh-lahy-kuh s] /ʌmˈbɪl ɪ kəs, ˌʌm bəˈlaɪ kəs/
noun, plural umbilici
[uhm-bil-uh-sahy, uhm-buh-lahy-sahy] /ʌmˈbɪl əˌsaɪ, ˌʌm bəˈlaɪ saɪ/ (Show IPA)
1.
Anatomy. the depression in the center of the surface of the abdomen indicating the point of attachment of the umbilical cord to the embryo; navel.
2.
Botany, Zoology. a navellike formation, as the hilum of a seed.
Origin
1605-15; < Latin umbilīcus navel, middle, center; see navel
Examples from the web for umbilicus
  • My data umbilicus runs up to the ceiling and across to a computer.
  • His umbilicus, that mute evidence of his ancestry, seems set directly upon the vertebral column.
  • The lowest part of the stomach is at the pyloric vestibule, which reaches to the region of the umbilicus.
British Dictionary definitions for umbilicus

umbilicus

/ʌmˈbɪlɪkəs; ˌʌmbɪˈlaɪkəs/
noun (pl) -bilici (-ˈbɪlɪˌsaɪ; -bɪˈlaɪsaɪ)
1.
(biology) a hollow or navel-like structure, such as the cavity at the base of a gastropod shell
2.
(anatomy) a technical name for the navel
Derived Forms
umbiliform (ʌmˈbɪlɪˌfɔːm) adjective
Word Origin
C18: from Latin: navel, centre; compare Latin umbō shield boss, Greek omphalos navel
Word Origin and History for umbilicus
n.

"navel," 1610s, from Latin umbilicus "navel," from PIE root *(o)nobh- "navel" (see navel). In English, mostly confined to medical writing. Latin umbilicus is source of Spanish ombligo as well as Old French lombril, literally "the navel," from l'ombril, which by dissimilation became modern Fr. nombril (12c.).

umbilicus in Medicine

umbilicus um·bil·i·cus (ŭm-bĭl'ĭ-kəs, ŭm'bə-lī'kəs)
n. pl um·bil·i·ci (-sī')
See navel.