umbilical cord
/əm.ˈbɪ.lə.kəl koɹd/ noun
Forms umbilical cords
- noun (anatomy) The flexible structure connecting a foetus with the placenta; it transports nourishment to the foetus and removes waste.
- noun (aerospace) The line that supplies an astronaut with oxygen and communications when outside a spacecraft.
- noun (aerospace) Any of the various lines connecting a rocket to its launch pad before liftoff.
- noun (botany) Synonym of funiculus.
- noun (figurative) An overdependence on or overattachment to support, especially from one's parents or guardians.
Synonyms
Etymology
From umbilical + cord. Largely displaced native navel-string. First attested in 1753.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “umbilical cord”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details