UMBILICUS • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Umbilicus

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noun

Umbilicus n.

(Anat.) The depression, or mark, in the median line of the abdomen, which indicates the point where the umbilical cord separated from the fetus; the navel; the belly button, in humans.

(Gr. & Rom. Antiq.) An ornamented or painted ball or boss fastened at each end of the stick on which manuscripts were rolled.

(Bot.) The hilum.

(Zool.)

(a)

A depression or opening in the center of the base of many spiral shells.

(b)

Either one of the two apertures in the calamus of a feather.

(Geom.)

(a)

One of the foci of an ellipse, or other curve. (Obs.)

(b)

A point of a surface at which the curvatures of the normal sections are all equal to each other. A sphere may be osculatory to the surface in every direction at an umbilicus. Called also umbilic.

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Etymology of 'Umbilicus'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Umbilicus" Quotes from Famous Books

... not allowed to eat salt until the baby's umbilicus dropped off, usually in two or three days. The umbilicus was dried and hung on the right side of the cradleboard to insure that the baby ...

— Washo Religion • James F. Downs

Words linked to "Umbilicus" : belly button, stomach, navel, belly, omphalus, bellybutton