/ rɪˈseptəkl; NAmE / noun
1.
receptacle (for sth) ( formal ) a container for putting sth in :
( figurative )
The seas have been used as a receptacle for a range of industrial toxins.
2.
( NAmE ) = socket (1)
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin receptaculum , from receptare receive back, frequentative of recipere , from re- back + capere take.