umbilical cord
noun
1
a
: a cord arising from the navel that connects the fetus with the placenta and through which respiratory gases, nutrients, and wastes pass
b
: yolk stalk
2
: a tethering or supply line (as for an astronaut outside a spacecraft or a diver underwater)
3
: a necessary, supportive, or nurturing link or connection
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Eyes full of tears and barely able to speak to the emergency operator, [Iman] tied a pair of red headphones around the umbilical cord. 
Taiwo Balogun, PEOPLE.com, 25 July 2022 Separated by 2,500 miles, Sensuntepeque, in central El Salvador, and the dusty farming community of Mendota, 35 miles west of Fresno, are joined as if by an umbilical cord of financial need and emotional codependency. Soudi Jiménez, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2022 Sometimes, the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck, or the baby’s shoulder gets stuck while coming out, or the placenta separates from the uterus prematurely. Edward Chen, STAT, 18 July 2022 And then the fraternal umbilical cord was cut, with Charlotte in August releasing Caleb, who a month later signed a two-way contract with the Heat. Ira Winderman, sun-sentinel.com, 10 Oct. 2021 Doctors were forced to perform an emergency C-section after discovering the umbilical cord was tied around the baby's ankle. Gabrielle Duncan, PEOPLE.com, 15 Sep. 2021 Steven is quite the hands-on grandfather: the Aerosmith frontman was actually the one to cut 3-year-old grandson Sailor's umbilical cord in the delivery room. Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2022 Nadler, of Children’s National, has begun to look at the umbilical cord blood of newborns for factors that could influence a child's weight. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 12 June 2022 The baby boy was discovered unclothed with its umbilical cord attached on the shore of Methodist Beach, southeast of Minneapolis, on the afternoon of Dec. 7, 2003, according to a criminal complaint. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 9 May 2022 See More
Taiwo Balogun, PEOPLE.com, 25 July 2022 Separated by 2,500 miles, Sensuntepeque, in central El Salvador, and the dusty farming community of Mendota, 35 miles west of Fresno, are joined as if by an umbilical cord of financial need and emotional codependency. Soudi Jiménez, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2022 Sometimes, the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby’s neck, or the baby’s shoulder gets stuck while coming out, or the placenta separates from the uterus prematurely. Edward Chen, STAT, 18 July 2022 And then the fraternal umbilical cord was cut, with Charlotte in August releasing Caleb, who a month later signed a two-way contract with the Heat. Ira Winderman, sun-sentinel.com, 10 Oct. 2021 Doctors were forced to perform an emergency C-section after discovering the umbilical cord was tied around the baby's ankle. Gabrielle Duncan, PEOPLE.com, 15 Sep. 2021 Steven is quite the hands-on grandfather: the Aerosmith frontman was actually the one to cut 3-year-old grandson Sailor's umbilical cord in the delivery room. Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2022 Nadler, of Children’s National, has begun to look at the umbilical cord blood of newborns for factors that could influence a child's weight. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 12 June 2022 The baby boy was discovered unclothed with its umbilical cord attached on the shore of Methodist Beach, southeast of Minneapolis, on the afternoon of Dec. 7, 2003, according to a criminal complaint. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 9 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
umbilical cord
noun
um·bil·i·cal cord
ˌəm-ˈbi-li-kəl-
: a cord that contains blood vessels and connects a developing fetus with the placenta of the mother
Medical Definition
umbilical cord
noun
: a cord arising from the navel that connects the fetus with the placenta and contains the two umbilical arteries and the umbilical vein