umbilical cord

noun

1
a
: a cord arising from the navel that connects the fetus with the placenta and through which respiratory gases, nutrients, and wastes pass
2
: a tethering or supply line (as for an astronaut outside a spacecraft or a diver underwater)
3
: a necessary, supportive, or nurturing link or connection

Examples of umbilical cord in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The umbilical cord is normally disposed of as medical waste. Allen Goldberg, STAT, 27 Feb. 2024 Police accused Anderson of discarding Baby Skylar — a full-term baby with its umbilical cord still attached — in a Sky Harbor women's restroom trash can. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 20 Feb. 2024 Does a filament act as a kind of umbilical cord through which cores and then stars acquire their masses? Nia Imara, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 But two things tend to happen when an umbilical cord is cut. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024 Well, the mother seal turned around and the umbilical cord was still there. Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 My hunch is that the filaments of Cal X are indeed serving as cosmic umbilical cords to the stars being formed in the region. Nia Imara, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 As a composer, musician, and performer, Christian’s got technical virtuosity, imaginative brilliance, and an unbroken umbilical cord connecting her to theater’s origins in the sacred. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024 The baby's umbilical cord was still attached when medics responded to the scene and located the 41-year-old mother, the Hawaii Police Department said in a press release. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'umbilical cord.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of umbilical cord was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near umbilical cord

Cite this Entry

“Umbilical cord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umbilical%20cord. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

umbilical cord

noun
um·​bil·​i·​cal cord
ˌəm-ˈbil-i-kəl-
: a cord that contains blood vessels and connects the navel of a fetus with the placenta of the mother

Medical Definition

umbilical cord

noun
: a cord arising from the navel that connects the fetus with the placenta and contains the two umbilical arteries and the umbilical vein
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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