The Collaborative International Dictionary
Socket \Sock"et\, n. [OE. soket, a dim. through OF. fr. L. soccus. See Sock a covering for the foot.]
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An opening into which anything is fitted; any hollow thing or place which receives and holds something else; as, the sockets of the teeth.
His eyeballs in their hollow sockets sink.
--Dryden. Especially, the hollow tube or place in which a candle is fixed in the candlestick.
(Electricity) the receptacle of an electric lamp into which a light bulb is inserted, containing contacts to conduct electricity to the bulb.
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(Electricity) the receptacle fixed in a wall and connected by conductive wiring to an electrical supply, containing contacts to conduct electricity, and into which the plug of an electrical device is inserted; -- called also a wall socket or outlet. The socket will typically have two or three contacts; if three, the third is connected to a ground for safety.
And in the sockets oily bubbles dance.
--Dryden.Socket bolt (Mach.), a bolt that passes through a thimble that is placed between the parts connected by the bolt.
Socket chisel. Same as Framing chisel. See under Framing.
Socket pipe, a pipe with an expansion at one end to receive the end of a connecting pipe.
Socket pole, a pole armed with iron fixed on by means of a socket, and used to propel boats, etc. [U.S.]
Socket wrench, a wrench consisting of a socket at the end of a shank or rod, for turning a nut, bolthead, etc., in a narrow or deep recess.
Wiktionary
n. 1 A mains electricity power point mounted in or on a wall inside a dwelling or other building. 2 Any outlet or recess in a wall.
WordNet
n. receptacle providing a place in a wiring system where current can be taken to run electrical devices [syn: wall plug, electric outlet, electrical outlet, outlet, electric receptacle]
Usage examples of "wall socket".
The electric cord still connected the hot plate to a wall socket supplying 117 volts AC from the barge's electrical system.
He made out a snakelike loop of fiberoptics protruding from a wall socket, a pile of discarded food containers, and the bladeless nacelle of an electric fan.
He made out a snake like loop of fiber optics protruding from a wall socket, a pile of discarded food containers, and the blade less nacelle of an electric fan.
He made out a snake like loop of fiber optics protruding from a wall socket, a pile of discarded food containers, and the bladeless nacelle of an electric fan.
She gave Drummer to Natalie, and then she walked purposefully into the den and yanked the telephone from its wall socket.
He plugged the power cable into the wall socket, then sat on the bed, the other end in his hand, looking at the silvery cylinder.
As she carried the coat to the rack, Frank took the lamp off the table, moved the table, set the projector down and plugged it into a wall socket.
The input cord was long, and fell in crazy coils from the wall socket.
Virginia glanced over in the back corner of the lab, where little Wendy sat patiently, drawing a small trickle of power from a wall socket.
He'd cut the droud cord by hand, and he'd cut it short deliberately tethering himself to a wall socket beyond reach of the kitchen.