réceptacle

A receptacle is a place, container, or structure designed to receive or hold something. The term is used across several disciplines to refer to a site where items gather, converge, or are attached. It derives from the Latin receptaculum, from recipere, to receive.

In botany, the receptacle is the part of the plant axis at the base of a flower or inflorescence to which the floral organs attach. In some species the receptacle enlarges or persists as part of the fruit; for example, in strawberries the edible portion is largely the swollen receptacle, while the true fruits are the tiny achenes on the surface.

In electronics and electrical engineering, a receptacle is a female connector into which a corresponding male plug is inserted to establish an electrical connection. Receptacles are designed to accept standardized plugs and are installed in outlets, equipment housings, and other devices. The term is often used interchangeably with socket.

In broader biological and everyday usage, receptacle can denote any site or container that receives or stores materials, hidden or visible. It can also describe an anatomical structure that receives secretions, food, or other substances in various organisms.

See also: socket, outlet, and related terms used to describe connectors; receptacle as a general term for a receiving structure in biology or anatomy.