Word
receptacle
Phoneticsre·cep·ta·cle, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹəˈsɛptəkəɫ/
UK/ɹɪsˈɛptəkəl/
Definition
n. a container or holder, especially one that is used to hold something specific like a seed or a piece of fruit.
n. a container or vessel, particularly one used to hold or receive something. In a biological context, it refers to a structure that holds or receives a specific biological entity, such as a seed or a fruit.
Examples
“The plant has a small receptacle that holds the seeds.”
“The biologist examined the receptacle of the flower to see how the seeds were arranged.”
“In many flowering plants, the receptacle swells to form a fleshy structure that serves as a protective receptacle for the developing seeds until they are ready for dispersal.”
Examples
simple
“The plant has a small receptacle that holds the seeds.”
contextual
“The biologist examined the receptacle of the flower to see how the seeds were arranged.”
complex
“In many flowering plants, the receptacle swells to form a fleshy structure that serves as a protective receptacle for the developing seeds until they are ready for dispersal.”
Real-World Examples
“However, we never thought to decide what receptacle her remains would be returned in, so it wasn’t until after her death that I found myself browsing the selection of “scatter tubes” on offer.” “A company that put a large parcel locker in front of a blue plaque, obscuring it from public view, has removed the receptacle.” “A good place to start is calculating the volume of water that your moka pot or AeroPress holds, and heating the same volume again to 70°C in a separate receptacle.” “The line demarcating Earth’s hemispheres actually lies 334 feet to the east of the official Greenwich Meridian, cutting through a pathway nearby a garbage receptacle.” 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 (“I receive back or again, I recover”), frequentative of recipiō (“I receive; I hold back, I reserve”) (from re- (“back, again”) + capiō (“I hold”)) + -culum (suffix forming nouns from verbs, particularly nouns representing tools and instruments); cognate with Italian recettaculo, ricettaculo, Portuguese receptáculo, Spanish receptáculo.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/receptacle