receptacle
noun
re·cep·ta·cle ri-ˈsep-ti-kəl 
1
: one that receives and contains something : container
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
Synonyms
- container
- holder
- vessel
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 boxy stainless steel receptacle has openings for trash and for can and bottle recycling and includes a foot pedal. 
Olga R. Rodriguez, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 The tech detects when your cat has done their business and whisks the yuck into a waste receptacle. Jessica Hartshorn, Good Housekeeping, 12 July 2022 This month, a shiny blue receptacle that resembles a mailbox was installed in an alley behind Mat-Su Urgent Care in Palmer, across the street from the local fire department. Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 3 July 2022 On the Canadian and American shorelines, paper mills once used the lake as a receptacle for waste replete with pollutants. David Rompf, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2022 The electric rake operates through any clumping litter and the receptacle stores up to a week’s mess. Lynn Redmile, Good Housekeeping, 9 May 2022 Following hydrogen refueling, the inlet receptacle filter could detach and cause a hydrogen fuel leak. USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2022 Sound can be a powerful emotional receptacle, triggering memories when heard again. Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Mar. 2022 The Bissell's dirt receptacle only needed emptying once at the end of all the tests. Amy Jamieson, PEOPLE.com, 15 Apr. 2022 See More
Olga R. Rodriguez, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 The tech detects when your cat has done their business and whisks the yuck into a waste receptacle. Jessica Hartshorn, Good Housekeeping, 12 July 2022 This month, a shiny blue receptacle that resembles a mailbox was installed in an alley behind Mat-Su Urgent Care in Palmer, across the street from the local fire department. Annie Berman, Anchorage Daily News, 3 July 2022 On the Canadian and American shorelines, paper mills once used the lake as a receptacle for waste replete with pollutants. David Rompf, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2022 The electric rake operates through any clumping litter and the receptacle stores up to a week’s mess. Lynn Redmile, Good Housekeeping, 9 May 2022 Following hydrogen refueling, the inlet receptacle filter could detach and cause a hydrogen fuel leak. USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2022 Sound can be a powerful emotional receptacle, triggering memories when heard again. Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Mar. 2022 The Bissell's dirt receptacle only needed emptying once at the end of all the tests. Amy Jamieson, PEOPLE.com, 15 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin receptaculum, from receptare to receive, frequentative of recipere to receive
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
receptacle
noun
re·cep·ta·cle ri-ˈsep-tə-kəl
: something used to receive and hold smaller objects
a trash receptacle
receptacles
noun
as in containers
something into which a liquid or smaller objects can be put for storage or transportation place all wrappers in the trash receptacles at the entrances of the theater Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- containers
- bins
- bags
- holders
- vessels
- boxes
- bottles
- baskets
- cartridges
- tubs
- bowls
- pockets
- trunks
- cans
- cartons
- crates
- carriers
- lockers
- caddies
- buckets
- sacks
- caskets
- jugs
- cases
- basins
- kegs
- jars
- kits
- pots
- coolers
- kettles
- pails
- packs
- vats
- pitchers
- handbaskets
- hampers
- warmers