receptacles

Receptacle is a term used in several domains with distinct but related meanings. In common usage it refers to a container or place designed to receive or hold something. In everyday language a receptacle may be a waste bin, a vase, a drawer, or any container used to store or collect items.

Electrical receptacles: In electrical systems a receptacle is an electrical outlet or connector that accepts a plug. They are the female side of a plug-and-socket pair and are installed in walls, floors, or devices. Receptacles are rated by voltage and current and may include safety features such as grounding, tamper-resistance, weatherproof enclosures, GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter), or AFCI (arc fault circuit interrupter). Standards bodies such as UL or IEC govern their design and installation to reduce shock and fire hazards.

Botany: In plant anatomy the receptacle is the part of the stem or stalk that bears the floral organs. It is the basal enlargement to which sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels attach. In some species the receptacle enlarges during fruit development and, in cases such as the strawberry, becomes the edible portion while the true fruits (seed-bearing structures) are the achenes on its surface.

Other uses: The term also appears in other contexts to denote any receiving part of a system, such as a receptacle for samples in a lab or a mounting point in mechanical assemblies.