How do you use the word "receptacle" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "receptacle": The eye socket is the bone receptacle in which the eye fits.

Receptacle Meaning

/ɹɪˈsɛp.tə.kl̩/

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA container.

nounThe part of the flower stalk (peduncle or pedicel) to which the floral parts are attached; a thalamus, a torus.

Sentence Examples

The eye socket is the bone receptacle in which the eye fits.

CEFR Practice Quiz

After sealing the envelope, she dropped it into the mail ____ for collection.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

She placed the used batteries in the designated ____ for safe disposal at the recycling center.

Word Origin & History

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 (“to receive back or again, to recover”), frequentative of recipiō (“to receive; to hold back, to reserve”) (from re- (“back, again”) + capiō (“to hold”)) + -culum (suffix forming nouns from verbs, particularly nouns representing tools and instruments); cognate with Italian recettaculo, ricettaculo, Portuguese receptáculo, Spanish receptáculo.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"“Divine receptacle of excellence, let it not be deemed impertinent, or deviating from the rules of propriety, if I propound one queſtion which now labours in my breaſt; aſſuring me firſt, you will not let the ſceptre of true judgment depart from your right hand.”" — 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 11:

"Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm." — 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter III, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC:

"It must be conceded that a common poor-house is by no means a fit receptacle for lunatics, under any consideration either of the cure of the patients, or the comfort of the other inmates." — 1829 April, “Dorset Pauper Lunatic Asylum”, in The Crypt, or Receptacle for Things Past, and West of England Magazine (New Series), volume I, part I, number IV, Winchester, Hampshire: Published by Charles Henry Wheeler, Public Library, High-Street, →OCLC, pages 147–148:

"[…] and an anonymous scribe whose letter has been consigned to the receptacle most appropriate for such communications." — 1951 May, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 334:

"Receptacles used for storing inedible material must be of such material and construction that their use will not result in the adulteration of any edible product or in the creation of insanitary conditions. Such receptacles must not be used for storing any edible product and must bear conspicuous and distinctive marking to identify the permitted uses." — 2012, Y. H. Hui, “Sanitation Performance Standards”, in Y. H. Hui, editor, Handbook of Meat and Meat Processing, 2nd edition, Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, →ISBN, page 733:

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