socket

American  

[sok-it] / ˈsɒk ɪt /

noun

sockets plural

1. a hollow part or piece for receiving and holding some part or thing.

2. Electricity.

   1. a device intended to hold an electric light bulb mechanically and connect it electrically to circuit wires.

   2. Also called wall socket.  a socket placed in a wall to receive a plug that makes an electrical connection with supply wiring.

3. Anatomy.

   1. a hollow in one part that receives another part.

      the socket of the eye.

   2. the concavity of a joint.

      the socket of the hip.

---

verb (used with object)

sockets, present (3rd person singular) socketed, past participle, past socketing present participle

1. to place in or fit with a socket.

socket British  

/ ˈsɒkɪt /

noun

1. a device into which an electric plug can be inserted in order to make a connection in a circuit

2. US and Canadian name: outlet.  Informal Brit names: point.   plug.  such a device mounted on a wall and connected to the electricity supply

3. a part with an opening or hollow into which some other part, such as a pipe, probe, etc, can be fitted

4. a spanner head having a recess suitable to be fitted over the head of a bolt and a keyway into which a wrench can be fitted

5. anatomy

   1. a bony hollow into which a part or structure fits

      a tooth socket

      an eye socket

   2. the receptacle of a ball-and-socket joint

---

verb

1. (tr) to furnish with or place into a socket

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• socketless
  adjective
• unsocketed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sockets
  plural

Participles

• socketing
  present
• socketed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• socket
  simple
• sockets
  simple
• have socketed
  perfect
• has socketed
  perfect
• am socketing
  progressive
• are socketing
  progressive
• is socketing
  progressive
• have been socketing
  perfect progressive
• has been socketing
  perfect progressive

Past

• socketed
  simple
• had socketed
  perfect
• was socketing
  progressive
• were socketing
  progressive
• had been socketing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will socket
  simple
• will have socketed
  perfect
• will be socketing
  progressive
• will have been socketing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of socket

1300–50; Middle English soket < Anglo-French, equivalent to Old French soc plowshare (< Gaulish *soccos; compare Welsh swch, Old Irish socc ) + -et -et

Explanation

However many people it takes to change a light bulb, at least one of them will have to unscrew the old bulb from the socket and replace it with a new one. A hollow or cavity that you insert something into is a socket. Many people also call electrical outlets (like the one you plug a toaster into) sockets. This makes sense because you are inserting a plug into it—some purists argue that it has to be called an outlet because power comes out of it, but it's a perfectly good way to use the word. There are also anatomical sockets in our bodies, like eye sockets into which eyeballs fit neatly, and ball-and-socket joints, like hips and shoulders.

Example Sentences

Anker MagGo Magnetic Phone Grip is a MagSafe version of the Pop Socket, but designed for iPhone 12s and 13s.

From The Verge • Oct. 25, 2021

Called the Limitless Socket, it is intended to fit on the end of an amputated limb and be connected to a prosthesis, an artificial leg or foot.

From Washington Times • Feb. 7, 2018

Coiled coil regions were identified with the help of the program Socket.

From Nature • Apr. 4, 2014

The name refers to the Secure Socket Layer protocol language certificates use to guarantee the legitimacy of Web sites and addresses.

From New York Times • Sep. 12, 2011

Ball and Socket Joints.—The most practical form of ball and socket joints is simply a head in which is a bowl-shaped cavity the depth of one-half of the ball.

From Practical Mechanics for Boys by Zerbe, James Slough

Related Words

• apartment
• bedroom
• box
• cell
• cubicle
• hall
• room