noun
receptacle
rih-SEP-tuh-kul/rɪˈseptəkl/
A container or space designed to hold something.
The ceramic receptacle holds the wooden utensils securely.
Etymology
Latin receptaculum named a place where things were received and stored. The emphasis on both taking things in and keeping them explains why a receptacle can be either a container or a holding place.
In context
He was a receptacle into which confidences might be emptied, but he gave nothing in return.
More examples
- The machine has a receptacle for used cartridges.
- Each sample goes into a clean receptacle.
- Rainwater collects in the shallow receptacle below the pipe.
Forms
receptacle · receptacles