Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. The mark on the surface of the abdomen of mammals where the umbilical cord was attached during gestation. Also called umbilicus.
- n. A central point; a middle.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In anatomy, a mark or scar in the middle of the belly where the umbilical cord was attached in the fetus; the umbilieus; the omphalos.
- n. The central point or part of anything; the middle.
- n. The nave of a wheel.
- n. In ordnance, same as narel bolt.
Wiktionary
- n. The indentation or bump remaining in the abdomen of mammals where the umbilical cord was attached before birth.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A mark or depression in the middle of the abdomen; the umbilicus; called also
belly button in humans. See umbilicus. - n. The central part or point of anything; the middle.
- n. An eye on the under side of a carronade for securing it to a carriage.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a scar where the umbilical cord was attached
- n. the center point or middle of something
Etymologies
- Middle English, from Old English nafela; see nobh- in Indo-European roots.
Examples
“Back at Revolver, a 20-something wearing a collared shirt unbuttoned to his navel is approached and asked what he thinks of Ben Quayle.”
The Washington Post: Ben Quayle's run for Congress, interrupted by Internet columnist Nik Richie
“A thin, bright red streak that stretches from my sternum to a couple inches above my navel is a reminder of this.”
“As one pulp writer said, exposing a navel is sexy.”
“Lucas has not only flopped before, he's delivered some big whoppin 'navel-poppin' skin-burnin 'high-board pool-emptying bellyflops before, but sooner or later, he always manages to bob back to what's left of the surface.”
“With NASA mired in navel-gazing and bureaucracy, it makes sense to support private development of outer space.”
“The rise in navel-revealing fashions has spurred a rise in navel-augmentation surgery.”
“He has only washed the top half of his body and probably his navel is still a nest of coal dust, but even so it takes some skill to get pass-ably clean in a single basin of water.”
“The navel is here compared to a round cup or goblet, that wants not any of the agreeable liquor that one would wish to find in it, such as David's cup that ran over (Ps.xxiii. 5), well shaped, and not as that miserable infant whose navel was not cut, Ezek. xvi.”
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon)
“147 A large hollow navel is looked upon not only as a beauty, but in children it is held a promise of good growth.”
“2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like a heap of wheat set about with lilies.”
Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume III (Job to Song of Solomon)
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