Dictionary

navel en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• nā'vəl
• (US) audio
• /ˈneɪbəl/ (Southern-US, obsolete)
• nā'bəl (Southern-US, obsolete)
• /ˈneɪvəl/

Etymology

From Middle English navel, navele, from Old English nafola, from Proto-West Germanic *nabulō, from Proto-Germanic *nabalô (“navel”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃nóbʰōl (“navel”), diminutive of *h₃nebʰ- (“hub; navel”). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian nâle (“navel”), Dutch navel (“navel”), German Nabel (“navel”), Vilamovian nowuł (“navel”), Yiddish נאָפּל (nopl, “navel”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk navle (“navel”), Icelandic nafli (“navel”), Swedish navel (“navel”); also Irish imleacán (“navel”), Scottish Gaelic ilmeag, imleag (“navel; nave”), Kashmiri ناب (nāb, “navel”), Latin umbilīcus (“navel”), Greek αφαλός (afalós), ομφαλός (omfalós, “navel”), Old Prussian nabis (“navel”), Armenian անիվ (aniv, “wheel”), Central Kurdish ناوک (nawik, “navel”), Persian ناف (nâf, “navel”), Sanskrit नाभि (nābhi, “navel; centre”), Doublet of omphalos. More at nave.

Meanings

1. The indentation or bump remaining in the abdomen of placental mammals where the umbilical cord was attached before birth.
2. The central part or point of anything; the middle.
   • We sat alfresco on the edge of a “square,” in reality a pond of cobbly mud with a plinth plonked in its navel […] 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, London: Sceptre (Hodder and Stoughton), →ISBN:
   • Within the navel of this hideous wood, Immured in cypress shades, a sorcerer dwells, Of Bacchus and Circe born, great Comus 1637, John Milton, A Mask presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634:
   • Sweeter than the muſk of Tatar, the morning breeze from the navel of every flower raviſhed perfume. 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page iv:
3. A navel orange.
   • This contributed to a rapid rise in planted acreage in northern California, especially in navels, which are more suited to growing conditions there. 1981, Peter K. Thor, Edward V. Jesse, Economic Effects of Terminating Federal Marketing Orders for California-Arizona Oranges:
4. (historical) An eye on the underside of a carronade for securing it to a carriage.

Forms

Deriveds

navel-watching · navel-gazing · navel-string · contemplate one's navel · navel-gaze · navel ring · navellike · fuzzy navel · navel orange · navel string · navel-gazer · navel gall · navelwort · navel gazing · subnavel · navel point · navel-gazey · navelless

Holonyms

body · belly

Hyponyms

innie · outie

Relateds

omphaloskepsis · umbilicum mundi · outie · innie · omphalos

Synonyms

umbilicus · bellybutton · belly button · navel · nave

Translations (268)

jv tengah (remnant of umbilical cord) · cmn 肚臍眼 /肚脐眼 (remnant of umbilical cord) · mvv pusor (remnant of umbilical cord) · fur umbričon (remnant of umbilical cord) · izh napa (remnant of umbilical cord) · msk posod (remnant of umbilical cord) · es ombligo (remnant of umbilical cord) · kk кіндік (remnant of umbilical cord) · av цӏину (remnant of umbilical cord) · it onfalo (remnant of umbilical cord) · ny mchombo (remnant of umbilical cord) · lv naba (remnant of umbilical cord) · nan-hbl 腹臍 /腹脐 (remnant of umbilical cord) · qu pupu (remnant of umbilical cord) · bi nabuton (remnant of umbilical cord) · ja 臍 (remnant of umbilical cord) · ga imleacán (remnant of umbilical cord) · ba кендек (remnant of umbilical cord) · pt umbigo (remnant of umbilical cord) · as নাই (remnant of umbilical cord) · tr göbek (remnant of umbilical cord) · crh köbek (remnant of umbilical cord) · dtr pusod (remnant of umbilical cord) · bho नाभि (remnant of umbilical cord) · acm صُرّة (remnant of umbilical cord) · es pupu (remnant of umbilical cord) · enm navel (remnant of umbilical cord) · eu zilbor (remnant of umbilical cord) · sib pucet (remnant of umbilical cord) · fa ناف (remnant of umbilical cord) · de Bauchnabel (remnant of umbilical cord) · kw begel (remnant of umbilical cord) · fj vico (remnant of umbilical cord) · uz kindik (remnant of umbilical cord) · vec bonigol (remnant of umbilical cord) · kix thāilúi (remnant of umbilical cord) · bni montolu (remnant of umbilical cord) · rm umbli (remnant of umbilical cord) · tet husar (remnant of umbilical cord) · kmr navik (remnant of umbilical cord) · mg foitra (remnant of umbilical cord) · fur umbriçon (remnant of umbilical cord) · hil pusod (remnant of umbilical cord) · nl navel (remnant of umbilical cord) · sq kërthizë (remnant of umbilical cord) · ta தொப்புள் (remnant of umbilical cord) · eo umbiliko (remnant of umbilical cord) · sah киин (remnant of umbilical cord) · rup buric (remnant of umbilical cord) · hu köldök (remnant of umbilical cord) · gld хуйму (remnant of umbilical cord) · ha cibiya (remnant of umbilical cord) · vi rún (remnant of umbilical cord) · ltg pupona (remnant of umbilical cord) · bn নাভি (remnant of umbilical cord) · vi rốn (remnant of umbilical cord) · mi ihonga (remnant of umbilical cord) · tpi hap bel (remnant of umbilical cord) · xdq зи (remnant of umbilical cord) · nmb p'ət (remnant of umbilical cord) · ast ombligu (remnant of umbilical cord) · sne pisod (remnant of umbilical cord) · ota سره (remnant of umbilical cord) · ks ناف (remnant of umbilical cord) · ill pused (remnant of umbilical cord) · ay kururu (remnant of umbilical cord) · shi abuḍ (remnant of umbilical cord) · ilo puseg (remnant of umbilical cord) · drg pusod (remnant of umbilical cord) · cs pupek (remnant of umbilical cord) · lt bamba (remnant of umbilical cord) · scn viḍḍicu (remnant of umbilical cord) · he פופיק (remnant of umbilical cord) · tih pusor (remnant of umbilical cord) · ttj omukundi class 3 (remnant of umbilical cord) · ms pusar (remnant of umbilical cord) · orv пупъ (remnant of umbilical cord) · hi नाभि (remnant of umbilical cord) · sv navel (remnant of umbilical cord) · udi цӏан (remnant of umbilical cord) · pdc Nawwel (remnant of umbilical cord) · ps د نامه غوټه (remnant of umbilical cord) · af nawel (remnant of umbilical cord) · ru пуп (remnant of umbilical cord) · cop ϧⲉⲗⲡⲓ (remnant of umbilical cord) · qu puputi (remnant of umbilical cord) · kqr pusod (remnant of umbilical cord) · tyv хиндик (remnant of umbilical cord) · am እምብርት (remnant of umbilical cord) · ml പൊക്കിൾ (remnant of umbilical cord) · mt żokra (remnant of umbilical cord) · ug كىندىك (remnant of umbilical cord) · he טַבּוּר (remnant of umbilical cord) · yue 肚臍 /肚脐 (remnant of umbilical cord) · ru пупо́к (remnant of umbilical cord) · fi napa (remnant of umbilical cord) · cu пѫпъ (remnant of umbilical cord) · bor künabo (remnant of umbilical cord) · ks توٗن (remnant of umbilical cord) · br begel (remnant of umbilical cord) · lo ສາຍບື (remnant of umbilical cord) · tr göbek deliği (remnant of umbilical cord) · is nafli (remnant of umbilical cord) · pdt Nowel (remnant of umbilical cord) · kn ನಾಭಿ (remnant of umbilical cord) · rap pito pito (remnant of umbilical cord) · yue 肚臍窿 /肚脐窿 (remnant of umbilical cord) · km ផ្ចិត (remnant of umbilical cord) · syl ꠘꠣꠁꠝꠥꠠꠣꠟ (remnant of umbilical cord) · sa नाभि (remnant of umbilical cord) · nan-hbl 肚臍 /肚脐 (remnant of umbilical cord) · ro buric (remnant of umbilical cord) · el αφαλός m ομφαλός (remnant of umbilical cord) · sk pupok (remnant of umbilical cord) · ko 배꼽 (remnant of umbilical cord) · uga 𐎌𐎗 (remnant of umbilical cord) · cv кӑвапа (remnant of umbilical cord) · th สะดือ (remnant of umbilical cord) · gu ડૂંટી (remnant of umbilical cord) · vec bonigolo (remnant of umbilical cord) · arz سرة (remnant of umbilical cord) · myv почо (remnant of umbilical cord) · ady шдиху (remnant of umbilical cord) · egy X:p-G41-A-F51 (remnant of umbilical cord) · uk пуп (remnant of umbilical cord) · ca llombrígol (remnant of umbilical cord) · sh pȕpak (remnant of umbilical cord) · tg ноф (remnant of umbilical cord) · fr ombilic (remnant of umbilical cord) · it ombelico (remnant of umbilical cord) · fo nalvi (remnant of umbilical cord) · sa नाभी (remnant of umbilical cord) · alt киндик (remnant of umbilical cord) · vo numbril (remnant of umbilical cord) · oc embonilh (remnant of umbilical cord) · sw kitovu (remnant of umbilical cord) · uk пупо́к (remnant of umbilical cord) · ota گوبك (remnant of umbilical cord) · pa ਧੁੰਨੀ (remnant of umbilical cord) · ms pusat (remnant of umbilical cord) · tbl huhed (remnant of umbilical cord) · da navle (remnant of umbilical cord) · bg пъп (remnant of umbilical cord) · bo ལྟེ་བ (remnant of umbilical cord) · sip ཏི་ཏི (remnant of umbilical cord) · vec bonigoło (remnant of umbilical cord) · te నాభి (remnant of umbilical cord) · sh пу̏пак (remnant of umbilical cord) · bal ناپگ (remnant of umbilical cord) · sl pópek (remnant of umbilical cord) · mn хүйс (remnant of umbilical cord) · id pusar (remnant of umbilical cord) · rif tmiṭ (remnant of umbilical cord) · isk ناف (remnant of umbilical cord) · yai нофа (remnant of umbilical cord) · dtp pusod (remnant of umbilical cord) · wyi meendook (remnant of umbilical cord) · acm سُرّة (remnant of umbilical cord) · grc ὀμφαλός (remnant of umbilical cord) · ur نابھی (remnant of umbilical cord) · ne नाइटो (remnant of umbilical cord) · as নাভি (remnant of umbilical cord) · gl embigo (remnant of umbilical cord) · cmn 肚臍 /肚脐 (remnant of umbilical cord) · su bujal (remnant of umbilical cord) · njo-jgl tebela (remnant of umbilical cord) · sc imbílicu (remnant of umbilical cord) · yi פּופּיק (remnant of umbilical cord) · nog киндик (remnant of umbilical cord) · mel pused (remnant of umbilical cord) · qu puti (remnant of umbilical cord) · fr nombril (remnant of umbilical cord) · af naeltjie (remnant of umbilical cord) · ani цӏцӏунно (remnant of umbilical cord) · nrf nõmbri (remnant of umbilical cord) · az göbək (remnant of umbilical cord) · cdm तोय् (remnant of umbilical cord) · nds Navel (remnant of umbilical cord) · be пуп (remnant of umbilical cord) · duo pusad (remnant of umbilical cord) · mi pito (remnant of umbilical cord) · ta பொக்குள் (remnant of umbilical cord) · rif taɛebbuṭṭ (remnant of umbilical cord) · oj indis (remnant of umbilical cord) · liv nabā (remnant of umbilical cord) · bdr ponsot (remnant of umbilical cord) · tl pusod (remnant of umbilical cord) · gu નાભિ (remnant of umbilical cord) · ta கொப்பூழ் (remnant of umbilical cord) · hak 肚臍窟 /肚脐窟 (remnant of umbilical cord) · oc monilh (remnant of umbilical cord) · te బొడ్డు (remnant of umbilical cord) · txb kele (remnant of umbilical cord) · nrf naombrin (remnant of umbilical cord) · hi नाफ़ (remnant of umbilical cord) · krc киндик (remnant of umbilical cord) · aqc цӏан (remnant of umbilical cord) · ka ჭიპი (remnant of umbilical cord) · ks نان (remnant of umbilical cord) · pam pusud (remnant of umbilical cord) · kum гинник (remnant of umbilical cord) · om hadhuura (remnant of umbilical cord) · ar سُرَّة (remnant of umbilical cord) · my ချက် (remnant of umbilical cord) · be пупо́к (remnant of umbilical cord) · ur ناف (remnant of umbilical cord) · lkt čhekpá (remnant of umbilical cord) · ky киндик (remnant of umbilical cord) · acw سرّة (remnant of umbilical cord) · gd imleag (remnant of umbilical cord) · tao pesed (remnant of umbilical cord) · ccp 𑄚𑄞𑄨 (remnant of umbilical cord) · pl pępek (remnant of umbilical cord) · ca melic (remnant of umbilical cord) · id pusat (remnant of umbilical cord) · eu zil (remnant of umbilical cord) · inh цӏонг (remnant of umbilical cord) · yi נאָפּל (remnant of umbilical cord) · ks ناب (remnant of umbilical cord) · no navle (remnant of umbilical cord) · de Nabel (remnant of umbilical cord) · so xudhur (remnant of umbilical cord) · la umbilīcus (remnant of umbilical cord) · nrf nombrîn (remnant of umbilical cord) · wym nowuł (remnant of umbilical cord) · es pupo (remnant of umbilical cord) · tt кендек (remnant of umbilical cord) · bsy pusod (remnant of umbilical cord) · haw piko (remnant of umbilical cord) · hy պորտ (remnant of umbilical cord) · nv atsʼééʼ (remnant of umbilical cord) · gl beligo (remnant of umbilical cord) · udm гогы (remnant of umbilical cord) · ccc mocho (remnant of umbilical cord) · nay pulanggi (remnant of umbilical cord) · tk göbek (remnant of umbilical cord) · akl pusod (remnant of umbilical cord) · io umbiliko (remnant of umbilical cord) · ruq buric (remnant of umbilical cord) · vro naba (remnant of umbilical cord) · hak 肚臍 /肚脐 (remnant of umbilical cord) · ota ناف (remnant of umbilical cord) · kl qalaseq (remnant of umbilical cord) · cy bogail (remnant of umbilical cord) · tew sipén (remnant of umbilical cord) · ln montolu (remnant of umbilical cord) · smj náhpe (remnant of umbilical cord) · chr ᎤᏗᏴᏓᏛᎢ (remnant of umbilical cord) · oc embonígol (remnant of umbilical cord) · pam pusad (remnant of umbilical cord) · mn хүй (remnant of umbilical cord) · ckb ناوک (remnant of umbilical cord) · ps نو (remnant of umbilical cord) · et naba (remnant of umbilical cord) · mk папок (remnant of umbilical cord) · vep naba (remnant of umbilical cord) · vec bunigol (remnant of umbilical cord) · ast embeligru (remnant of umbilical cord) · sat ᱵᱩᱠᱟᱹ (remnant of umbilical cord) · fur bugnigul (remnant of umbilical cord) · vec bunigolo (remnant of umbilical cord) · za saejndw (remnant of umbilical cord) · tsg pusud (remnant of umbilical cord) · sc imbírigu (remnant of umbilical cord) · ce цӏонга (remnant of umbilical cord) · mrw posed (remnant of umbilical cord) · kg mutolo (remnant of umbilical cord) · as নাড়ী (remnant of umbilical cord)

navel en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• nā'vəl
• (US) audio
• /ˈneɪbəl/ (Southern-US, obsolete)
• nā'bəl (Southern-US, obsolete)
• /ˈneɪvəl/

Etymology

From Middle English navel, navele, from Old English nafola, from Proto-West Germanic *nabulō, from Proto-Germanic *nabalô (“navel”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃nóbʰōl (“navel”), diminutive of *h₃nebʰ- (“hub; navel”). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian nâle (“navel”), Dutch navel (“navel”), German Nabel (“navel”), Vilamovian nowuł (“navel”), Yiddish נאָפּל (nopl, “navel”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk navle (“navel”), Icelandic nafli (“navel”), Swedish navel (“navel”); also Irish imleacán (“navel”), Scottish Gaelic ilmeag, imleag (“navel; nave”), Kashmiri ناب (nāb, “navel”), Latin umbilīcus (“navel”), Greek αφαλός (afalós), ομφαλός (omfalós, “navel”), Old Prussian nabis (“navel”), Armenian անիվ (aniv, “wheel”), Central Kurdish ناوک (nawik, “navel”), Persian ناف (nâf, “navel”), Sanskrit नाभि (nābhi, “navel; centre”), Doublet of omphalos. More at nave.

Meanings

1. (literary, poetic) To be in the middle of a landscape.
   • I rejoice as I call back those pleasant times, when in the casement of our seminary, I rested my telescope on my shut-up Virgil, and looked off among the far-off hills in the lap of which the edifice was naveled, and saw the pretty girls of the farm-houses, […] 1835 August, Ollapod [pseudonym], “Ollapodiana. Number Four.”, in The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, volume VI, number 2, New York, N.Y.: [Lewis Gaylord] Clark and [Clement] Edson, […], page 122:
   • The crimson berry tree navelled upon this court / Twinkles a coded message, a wind-sun tingling chord, / Curious round her foot saunters one blue jay: […] 1965, C[ecil] Day Lewis, “Madrigal for Lowell House”, in The Room & Other Poems, London: Jonathan Cape, page 53:
   • Within the shade a ruined temple stands / To sight conspicuous, navelled in the pines, / Speaking of Grecian art, since Vandal hands / Defaced her structures, and despoiled her shrines. 1819, J[eremiah] H[olmes] Wiffen, “Aspley Wood”, in Aonian Hours; and Other Poems, London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, canto II, stanza LXII, page 102:
   • Lo, Nemi! navelled in the woody hills / So far, that the uprooting wind which tears / The oak from his foundation, and which spills / The ocean o’er its boundary, and bears / Its foam against the skies, reluctant spares / The oval mirror of thy glassy lake; […] 1818, Lord Byron, “Canto IV”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Canto the Fourth, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, stanza CLXXIII, page 89:

Forms