receptacle

American  

[ri-sep-tuh-kuhl] / rɪˈsɛp tə kəl /

noun

• receptacles
  plural

1. 

   a container, device, etc., that receives or holds something.

   a receptacle for trash.

2. Botany. the modified or expanded portion of the stem or axis that bears the organs of a single flower or the florets of a flower head.

3. Electricity. a contact device installed at an outlet for the connection of a portable lamp, appliance, or other electric device by means of a plug and flexible cord.

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receptacle British  

/ rɪˈsɛptəkəl /

noun

1. an object that holds something; container

2. botany

   1. the enlarged or modified tip of the flower stalk that bears the parts of the flower

   2. the shortened flattened stem bearing the florets of the capitulum of composite flowers such as the daisy

   3. the part of lower plants that bears the reproductive organs or spores

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receptacle Scientific  

/ rĭ-sĕp′tə-kəl /

1. The enlarged upper end of a flower stalk that bears the flower or group of flowers. The fleshy edible part of an apple is actually a modified receptacle.

2. See more at flower

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• receptacles
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of receptacle

1375–1425; Middle English (< Old French ) < Latin receptāculum reservoir, equivalent to receptā ( re ) to take again, receive back (frequentative of recipere to receive ) + -culum -cle ²

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Explanation

A receptacle is a container that's used for holding or storing things. If you are having a party on a rainy day, you can put a receptacle outside your door for your guests' umbrellas. The noun receptacle means any kind of container. For example, a trash receptacle holds your garbage and a receptacle for loose change can keep you from scattering coins all over your house. In botany, receptacle refers to the part of a stem that holds a plant's organs. The word receptacle comes from the Latin root word receptaculum, which describes a place to receive and store things.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

receptacle receptacles

If you do become trustee, you must follow the trust terms and act in your niece’s best interests — and resist being the receptacle for endless familial requests.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

Fortunately, there’s a constitutional position that serves as a political blame receptacle: the vice president.

From Slate ● Jun. 19, 2026

During an in-flight refueling mission, a rigid pipe is lowered from the tanker part of the aircraft and inserted into a small receptacle on the receiving aircraft.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026

Creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri described her collection as "demonstrating how clothing is a receptacle that affirms cultural, aesthetic and social codes".

From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2025

Brooks objected: A cabinet made “a good receptacle for dirt, mice too.”

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

These items are receptacles of love and apple sauce.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 1, 2026

Deputies said it was “currently unknown” how the suspects transported all 85 fish — some large — in the small receptacles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2025

When residents realised there was free petrol to be had - people, mostly young men and teenagers, rushed to get buckets and other receptacles to collect the precious liquid.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2024

Rant to people at the game who left their empty cups, cans, napkins and containers in the stands when leaving the game rather than putting them in the many provided receptacles.

From Seattle Times ● May 22, 2024

The flowers were unnecessary, for at two o'clock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsby's, with innumerable receptacles to contain it.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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