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

b

: yolk stalk

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

There is no umbilical cord to cut. —Simon Hughes, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

According to the coroner, the umbilical cord was not cut and an attempt to deliver the placenta at an unknown time the next morning was unsuccessful. —David Chiu, People.com, 17 Aug. 2025

Nutrients were delivered via a tube attached to the umbilical cord, allowing the lamb to grow wool within four weeks, according to Chosun Biz. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025

For those of you who don't know what that is, we are fed through an umbilical cord in utero. —Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for umbilical cord

• abhorred
• aboard
• accord
• adored
• afford
• award
• baseboard
• billboard
• blackboard
• boxboard
• breadboard
• broadsword

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