n.
Pronunciation: ri- ' sep-ti-k ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin receptaculum, from receptare to receive, frequentative of recipere to receive
Date: 15th century
1 : one that receives and contains something : CONTAINER
2 [New Latin receptaculum, from L] 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