• n. [解剖] 肚臍；中央；中心點

來自PIE*nobh,肚臍，詞源同umbilicus,umbilical cord.拼寫比較nail,unguent.

navel (n.)

Old English nafela, nabula, from Proto-Germanic *nabalan (cognates: Old Norse nafli, Danish and Swedish navle, Old Frisian navla, Middle Dutch and Dutch navel, Old High German nabalo, German Nabel), from PIE *(o)nobh- "navel" (cognates: Sanskrit nabhila "navel, nave, relationship;" Avestan nafa "navel," naba-nazdishta "next of kin;" Persian naf; Latin umbilicus "navel;" Old Prussian nabis "navel;" Greek omphalos; Old Irish imbliu). For Romanic words, see umbilicus.

The cords of all link back, strandentwining cable of all flesh. [Joyce, "Ulysses"]

"Navel" words from other roots include Lithuanian bamba, Sanskrit bimba- (also "disk, sphere"), Greek bembix, literally "whirlpool." Old Church Slavonic papuku, Lithuanian pumpuras are originally "bud." Considered a feminine sexual center since ancient times, and still in parts of the Middle East, India, and Japan. In medieval Europe, it was averred that "[t]he seat of wantonness in women is the navel." [Cambridge bestiary, C.U.L. ii.4.26] Words for it in most languages have a secondary sense of "center." Meaning "center or hub of a country" is attested in English from late 14c. To contemplate (one's) navel "meditate" is from 1933; hence navel-gazer (1952); see also omphaloskepsis. Navel orange attested from 1888.

1. She wore a checked shirt tied in a knot above the navel.

她身穿一件格子襯衫，衣角在肚臍上方打了個結。

來自柯林斯例句

2. She dismisses the reform process as an exercise in collective navel gazing.

她對這場改革嗤之以鼻，認為只是無實際行動的集體空想而已。

來自柯林斯例句

3. He pulled out his frill as far as his navel.

他把他的皺邊一直拉到肚臍上.

來自辭典例句

4. Are you some sort of navel - gazing , no - fun , mopey type?

難道你是那種目光如豆, 又消沉, 又毫無樂趣可言的類型?

來自電影對白

5. Granny is putting the tea oil on your navel.

奶奶在給你的肚臍眼搽茶油.

來自互聯網