navel

noun

na·​vel ˈnā-vəl How to pronounce navel (audio)
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 worldHenry Kamm

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This fleshy conglomerate feels vaguely seductive despite having only navels for orifices, only knee-like lumps for appendages. Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 27 Nov. 2024 This may be because massaging your navel can stimulate the lymphatic system in your gastrointestinal tract, Rocco says. Renée Onque, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024 With billowing sleeves, this crossover design also gives a little hint of skin at the navel. Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024 The metabolism of navel orangeworms — like many agricultural pests — is tied to temperature. Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for navel 

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 *h3nobh-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- < *h3n̥bh-el-on-), Greek omphalós "navel, central point" (see omphalos)

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of navel was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near navel

Cite this Entry

“Navel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navel. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

navel

noun
na·​vel ˈnā-vəl How to pronounce navel (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce navel (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on navel

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