Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

receptacle

/ɹɪˈsɛptəkəl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.87 in modern English

Syllables
re-cep-ta-cle
IPA
/ɹɪˈsɛptəkəl/
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

An organ that receives and holds a secretion.

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

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

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce receptacle?
The recorded pronunciation is /ɹɪˈsɛptəkəl/.
What does receptacle mean?
A container.
Where does receptacle come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce receptacle

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “receptacle”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɹɪˈsɛptəkəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “receptacle”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “receptacle” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.