Receptacle \Re*cep"ta*cle\ (r[-e]*s[e^]p"t[.a]*k'l), n. [F.
r['e]ceptacle, L. receptaculum, fr. receptare, v. intens. fr.
recipere to receive. See Receive.]
1. That which serves, or is used, for receiving and
containing something, as for examople, a basket, a
vase, a bag, a reservoir; a repository.
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O sacred receptacle of my joys! --Shak.
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2. (Bot.)
(a) The apex of the flower stalk, from which the organs of
the flower grow, or into which they are inserted. See
Illust. of Flower, and Ovary.
(b) The dilated apex of a pedicel which serves as a common
support to a head of flowers.
(c) An intercellular cavity containing oil or resin or
other matters.
(d) A special branch which bears the fructification in
many cryptogamous plants.
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Vase \Vase\ (v[=a]s or v[aum]z; 277), n. [F. vase; cf. Sp. & It.
vaso; fr. L. vas, vasum. Cf. Vascular, Vessel.]
1. A vessel adapted for various domestic purposes, and
anciently for sacrificial uses; especially, a vessel of
antique or elegant pattern used for ornament; as, a
porcelain vase; a gold vase; a Grecian vase. See Illust.
of Portland vase, under Portland.
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No chargers then were wrought in burnished gold,
Nor silver vases took the forming mold. --Pope.
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2. (Arch.)
(a) A vessel similar to that described in the first
definition above, or the representation of one in a
solid block of stone, or the like, used for an
ornament, as on a terrace or in a garden. See Illust.
of Niche.
(b) The body, or naked ground, of the Corinthian and
Composite capital; -- called also tambour, and
drum.
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Note: Until the time of Walker (1791), vase was made to rhyme
with base, case, etc., and it is still commonly so
pronounced in the United States. Walker made it to
rhyme with phrase, maze, etc. Of modern English
practice, Mr. A. J. Ellis (1874) says: "Vase has four
pronunciations in English: v[add]z, which I most
commonly say, is going out of use, v[aum]z I hear most
frequently, v[=a]z very rarely, and v[=a]s I only know
from Cull's marking. On the analogy of case, however,
it should be the regular sound."
The Merriam-Webster's 10th Colletgiate Dictionary says:
"U. S. oftenest v[=a]s; Canada usu. and U. S. also
v[=a]z; Canada also & U. S. sometimes v[aum]z."
One wit has noted that "a v[aum]z is a v[=a]z that
costs more than $100.", suggesting that the former is
considered a higher-class pronunciation.
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3. (Bot.) The calyx of a plant.
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