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 However, the looks du jour are not the same ultra-low-slung styles of Y2K. Instead, stars like Gigi Hadid and Laura Harrier are reaching for low-rise looks that hit just below the navel. Karli Bendlin, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2024 Pull your navel in with each exhale and keep your chest relaxed and slightly lifted throughout the breathing cycles. Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 29 July 2024 Causes of Pregnant Belly Button Pain Pregnancy can lead to abdominal pain around the navel area as the uterus continues to expand. Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 29 July 2024 Your belly button, or navel, sits in the center of your abdomen (belly). Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for navel 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'navel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 11 Sep. 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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