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

While Dave gets back to the capsule, Chris’ umbilical cord is snapped. —Mark Meszoros, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2025

Read Next Texas Baby abandoned on sidewalk with umbilical cord attached, Texas cops say. —Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 10 Feb. 2025

The family was scared when baby Ronin was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025

Maite Rodriguez welcomed her second child Vida on Jan. 9, 2024, and the newborn's umbilical cord blood was extracted and frozen in the hope that the stem cells would be enough to restore something her older sister, Alessia, never had. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 27 Jan. 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