noun
navel
NAY-vul/ˈneɪvl/
The small scar on the abdomen where the umbilical cord was attached.
His shirt rides up and leaves his navel uncovered.
Etymology
Old English nafela already named this bodily mark. Its position in the middle of the belly also made “navel” a figurative name for a center or hub.
In context
hit him with a spear midway between the private parts and the navel
More examples
- She gently washes around her baby's navel.
- The doctor checks the skin near my navel.
- Some navels stick out instead of forming a hollow.
Forms
navel · navels
Similar words
- belly button
- The everyday, informal name for the same body feature.
- umbilicus
- The medical term for the same scar on the abdomen.