receptacle
noun
re·cep·ta·cle
ri-ˈsep-ti-kəl 
2
[New Latin receptaculum, from Latin]
a
: the end of the flower stalk upon which the floral organs are borne
b
: a structure or tissue (as of a fungus or fern) bearing spores or sporangia
3
: a mounted female electrical fitting that contains the live parts of the circuit
Examples of receptacle in a Sentence
She used the box as a receptacle for her jewelry.
place all wrappers in the trash receptacles at the entrances of the theater
Recent Examples on the Web
The truck was stopped outside William Rogers Middle School in Kings Park around 6:30 a.m. when someone spotted a man inside the truck’s trash receptacle, WABC reported.
—
Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
The votes are then treated like all the others, placed one by one on a plate that sits over an urn used to hold ballots and then tipped into the receptacle.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 7 May 2025
According to a 2023 report, the Postal Service has experienced significant growth in mail theft from mail receptacles.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Only plug one heat-producing appliance into a receptacle outlet at a time.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for receptacle
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Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 29 May 2025
The votes are then treated like all the others, placed one by one on a plate that sits over an urn used to hold ballots and then tipped into the receptacle.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 7 May 2025
According to a 2023 report, the Postal Service has experienced significant growth in mail theft from mail receptacles.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Only plug one heat-producing appliance into a receptacle outlet at a time.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for receptacle
Cite this Entry
“Receptacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/receptacle. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
receptacle
noun
re·cep·ta·cle
ri-ˈsep-ti-kəl
1
: something used to receive and contain smaller objects : container
2
: the enlarged end of a flower stalk upon which the parts of the flower grow
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