First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
navel
noun na·vel \ˈnā-vəl\
: the small, hollow or raised area in the middle of your stomach
Full Definition of NAVEL
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
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Origin of NAVEL
Middle English, from Old English nafela; akin to Old High German nabalo navel, Latin umbilicus, Greek omphalos
Related to NAVEL
Other Anatomy Terms
NAVEL Defined for Kids
navel
noun na·vel \ˈnā-vəl\
Definition of NAVEL for Kids
: a hollow or bump in the middle of the stomach that marks the place where the umbilical cord was attached
Headscratcher for NAVEL
Don't confuse the words navel and naval. Navel means “belly button,” but naval means “relating to the navy.” You might say that a sailor has a “naval navel.”
Medical Dictionary
navel
noun na·vel \ˈnā-vəl\
Medical Definition of NAVEL
: 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
Illustration of NAVEL
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