navel

noun

na·​vel ˈnā-vəl 

1

: a depression in the middle of the abdomen that marks the point of former attachment of the umbilical cord or yolk stalk

2

: the central point : middle

In Delphi's golden age, when the ancients held it to be the navel of the world

—Henry Kamm

Synonyms

• axis
• base
• capital
• center
• central
• core
• cynosure
• epicenter
• eye
• focus
• ground zero
• heart
• hub
• locus
• mecca
• nerve center
• nexus
• nucleus
• omphalos
• seat

Examples of navel in a Sentence

a city that likes to regard itself as the nation's navel of art and culture

Recent Examples on the Web

Oranges: Any sort of oranges will do, but a nice variety of navel, Cara Cara, and blood oranges is wonderful. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025

Think baggy, low-slung jeans and ribbed cardigans like this one that show a hint of navel without being too revealing. —Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 26 Mar. 2025

Keep your back flat, with your core engaged (think about pulling your navel toward your spine). —Aubrey Bailey, Pt, Dpt, Cht, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025

The waistline sits below the navel; the hem skims the bottom of the bum Lace trim garter straps at side body Rose gold-tone hardware Satin flashes 93% Polyamide, 7% Elastane Hand wash cold, do not wring, do not tumble dry, line dry. —Appointed, refinery29.com, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, going back to Old English nafola, nafela, going back to Germanic *naƀ-alan- (whence also Old Frisian naula "navel," Middle Dutch navel, navele, Old High German nabalo, Old Icelandic nafli), masculine n-stem derivative from *naƀō "hub of a wheel, nave entry 1"; pre-Germanic *h₃nob^h-Vlo- with o-grade ablaut and an -l- formative is paralleled by zero-grade and an -l- formative in Latin umbilīcus "navel, central point" (see umbilicus), Old Irish imliu, imbliu "navel, boss of a shield, central point" (< *amb-el-on- < *h₃n̥b^h-el-on-), Greek omphalós "navel, central point" (see omphalos)

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing navel

• navel-gazing
• navel orange

Rhymes for navel

• naval
• primaeval

Kids Definition

navel

noun

na·​vel ˈnā-vəl 

: a hollowed out place on the outside wall of the middle of the abdomen marking the point of attachment of the umbilical cord

Medical Definition

navel

noun

na·​vel ˈnā-vəl 

: a depression in the middle of the abdomen that marks the point of former attachment of the umbilical cord to the embryo

called also umbilicus