um·bil·i·cal
ˌəm-ˈbi-li-kəl 
British also
ˌəm-bə-ˈlī-kəl
1
: of, relating to, or used at the navel
2
: of or relating to the central region of the abdomen
3
: being a necessary or nurturing link or connection
the town's umbilical rail line
Examples of umbilical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
Then hydrogen leaks arose during the third rehearsal, which led to NASA not only changing the way in which liquid hydrogen is loaded, but also modifying the ground umbilical plates that send power, coolant, fuel and communications to the rocket, according to Blackwell-Thompson.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Nov. 2025
Although Lemons and Yuasa moved quickly to try to get back to the bell, Lemons' umbilical snagged on the manifold and eventually snapped, leaving him stranded in the freezing underwater dark with minimal oxygen.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbilical
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Adjective
The civil complaint accuses hospital staff of failing to put a safety clamp on the peripheral IV tubing to prevent uncontrolled flow of D10 into Zendaya and failing to disconnect the IV tubing from Zendaya after the umbilical catheters were placed.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
Then hydrogen leaks arose during the third rehearsal, which led to NASA not only changing the way in which liquid hydrogen is loaded, but also modifying the ground umbilical plates that send power, coolant, fuel and communications to the rocket, according to Blackwell-Thompson.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
Next, according to plan, Cernan disconnected from the umbilical that attached him to the ship, and clipped on instead to one that was connected to the AMU.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Nov. 2025
Although Lemons and Yuasa moved quickly to try to get back to the bell, Lemons' umbilical snagged on the manifold and eventually snapped, leaving him stranded in the freezing underwater dark with minimal oxygen.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbilical
Cite this Entry
“Umbilical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umbilical. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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