umbilical cord
US /ʌmˈbɪl.ɪ.kəl ˌkɔːrd/
UK /ʌmˈbɪl.ɪ.kəl ˌkɔːrd/
1.
臍帶
a flexible cordlike structure containing blood vessels and attaching a human or other mammalian fetus to the placenta during gestation
:
•
The doctor clamped and cut the umbilical cord after the baby was born.
嬰兒出生後，醫生夾住並剪斷了臍帶。
•
The umbilical cord provides nutrients and oxygen to the developing fetus.
臍帶為發育中的胎兒提供營養和氧氣。
2.
臍帶 (比喻), 重要聯繫
a connection or link that is essential or that provides support, especially one that is difficult to break
:
•
He still has an umbilical cord to his mother, calling her for every decision.
他仍然與母親有臍帶般的聯繫，每做決定都要打電話給她。
•
The company's dependence on that single client was like an umbilical cord, making them vulnerable.
公司對那個單一客戶的依賴就像一根臍帶，使他們變得脆弱。