Meaning & use
a receptacle
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Meanings
nouncountableformal
A container or hollow object used for holding something.
Grammar: Countable: a receptacle, two receptacles; often followed by for.
Patterns
- a receptacle for something
- put something in a receptacle
Please place all paper in the receptacle provided by the door.
The plant stores water in a small receptacle at the base of its leaves.
The museum keeps the coins in a locked receptacle.
nouncountabletechnicalAmerican
A socket or point in a wall or device where you plug in an electrical cable.
Grammar: Countable; in American English usually "outlet" or "receptacle".
Patterns
- an electrical receptacle
- plug something into a receptacle
The lamp would not work until we found another receptacle.
An electrician replaced the old receptacle in the wall.
nouncountablebiologyspecialist
In biology, the part of a flower or plant that holds other parts, such as the base of a flower.
Grammar: Countable technical noun, common in biology texts.
Patterns
- the floral receptacle
- the receptacle of a flower
The petals and stamens are attached to the receptacle.
In this species the receptacle swells as the fruit develops.
Word forms
| plural | receptacles |
|---|
Common combinations
- a receptacle for waste
- Every desk has a small receptacle for waste.
- electrical receptacle
- The electrical receptacle is hidden behind the sofa.
- floral receptacle
- The floral receptacle supports the whole flower head.
- place something in a receptacle
- Place your keys in the receptacle by the door.
Synonyms and how they differ
- container
- Container is the everyday word for anything that holds something; receptacle is formal and sounds technical.
- bin
- A bin is a container for rubbish or storage; a receptacle can hold anything and is not only for waste.
- socket
- Socket is the usual word for the wall point for a plug; receptacle is the technical term.
Word family
- receptivity noun
- Willingness to receive ideas or impressions; a related but different abstract noun.
- receptive adjective
- Willing to listen to or accept new ideas.
Commonly confused: a receptacle or reception? a receptacle or recipe?
a receptacle vs reception
Reception means a welcome desk or a formal party, not a container.
a receptacle vs recipe
A recipe is a set of cooking instructions; the spelling and meaning are quite different.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses "receptacle" correctly.
Choose one answer.
A receptacle is a container, so bottles go in it. Option A confuses it with "envelope", C with "reception", and D with "cup" or "bowl".
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a receptacle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.