receptacle
/ɹɪˈsɛptəkəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.87 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A container.
noun
The part of the flower stalk (peduncle or pedicel) to which the floral parts are attached; a thalamus, a torus.
noun
The part of the flower stalk (peduncle or pedicel) to which the floral parts are attached; a thalamus, a torus.
noun
A structure at the end of a branch of an alga containing conceptacles (reproductive organs).
noun
A contact device installed at an outlet for the connection of an attachment plug (typically by receiving the plug's prongs) to supply portable appliances or equipment.
American usage
Example Sentences
- "“Divine receptacle of excellence, let it not be deemed impertinent, or deviating from the rules of propriety, if I propound one queſtion which now labours in my breaſt; aſſuring me firſt, you will not let the ſceptre of true judgment depart from your right hand.”"
- "Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm."
- "It must be conceded that a common poor-house is by no means a fit receptacle for lunatics, under any consideration either of the cure of the patients, or the comfort of the other inmates."
- "[…] and an anonymous scribe whose letter has been consigned to the receptacle most appropriate for such communications."
- "Receptacles used for storing inedible material must be of such material and construction that their use will not result in the adulteration of any edible product or in the creation of insanitary conditions. Such receptacles must not be used for storing any edible product and must bear conspicuous and distinctive marking to identify the permitted uses."
- "The form of the flower is highly dependent on the structure of the receptacle, even though this may not always be obvious externally. The receptacle is also called the floral axis, or it is sometimes called the torus, which may be translated as "swelling". These expressions per se imply that, although in the majority of cases the receptacle is greatly reduced, it is frequently thickened in a capitate form or broadened into a definitely disc-like shape."
Etymology
From Middle English receptacle, from Anglo-Norman receptacle and Middle French receptacle (“organ containing a fluid; gathering place; water basin”) (modern French réceptacle), from Latin receptāculum (“animal enclosure, container, place of refuge, receptacle, repository, reservoir, shelter”), from receptāre (“to harbour, to receive, to shelter”) or receptō (“to receive back or again, to recover”), frequentative of recipiō (“to receive; to hold back, to reserve”) (from re- (“back, again”) + capiō (“to hold”)) + -culum (suffix forming nouns from verbs, particularly nouns representing tools and instruments); cognate with Italian recettaculo, ricettaculo, Portuguese receptáculo, Spanish receptáculo. Doublet of receptaculum.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *keh₂p-, receptacle, receptāculum
Usage
- American usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.