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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Reservoir \Res"er*voir`\ (r[e^]z"[~e]r*vw[^o]r`; 277), n. [F.
   r['e]servoir, fr. LL. reservatorium. See {Reservatory}.]
   1. A place where anything is kept in store; especially, a
      place where water is collected and kept for use when
      wanted, as to supply a fountain, a canal, or a city by
      means of aqueducts, or to drive a mill wheel, or the like.
      
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   2. (Bot.) A small intercellular space, often containing
      resin, essential oil, or some other secreted matter.
      
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   3. (Med.) a large quantity of infectious microorganisms
      resident in animals other than man, potentially capable of
      being transmitted to humans.
      [PJC]

   3. (Med.) a large quantity of infectious microorganisms or
      parasites resident in animals other than man, potentially
      capable of being transmitted to humans; especially, such
      organisms in animals where they do little or no harm to
      the host.
      [PJC]

   4. a large supply or stock of anything which may be rapidly
      put to use; a reserve.
      [PJC]

   {Receiving reservoir} (Water Works), a principal reservoir
      into which an aqueduct or rising main delivers water, and
      from which a distributing reservoir draws its supply.
      
[1913 Webster]

reservoir
     n 1: a large or extra supply of something; "a reservoir of
          talent"
     2: lake used to store water for community use [syn: {artificial  lake}]
     3: tank used for collecting and storing a liquid (as water or
        oil)
     4: anything (a person or animal or plant or substance) in which
        an infectious agent normally lives and multiplies; "an
        infectious agent depends on a reservoir for its survival"
        [syn: {source}]

117 Moby Thesaurus words for "reservoir":
   archives, armory, arsenal, artificial lake, attic, backlog, bank,
   basement, bay, bayou lake, bin, bonded warehouse, bookcase, box,
   bunker, buttery, cache, cargo dock, cellar, chest, cistern, closet,
   conservatory, crate, crib, cupboard, dam, dead water, depository,
   depot, dike, dock, drawer, dump, etang, exchequer, farm pond,
   fishpond, freshwater lake, glacial lake, glory hole, godown, hoard,
   hold, hutch, inland sea, inventory, lagoon, laguna, lake, lakelet,
   landlocked water, library, linn, loch, locker, lough, lumber room,
   lumberyard, magasin, magazine, mere, millpond, millpool, nest egg,
   nyanza, oxbow lake, plash, pond, pondlet, pool, puddle, rack,
   repertory, repository, reserve, reserve fund, reserve supply,
   reserves, resource, rick, salina, salt pond, savings, shelf,
   sinking fund, something in reserve, stack, stack room,
   stagnant water, standing water, still water, stock, stock room,
   stockpile, storage, store, storehouse, storeroom, sump,
   supply base, supply depot, tank, tarn, tidal pond, treasure house,
   treasure room, treasury, unexpended balance, vat, vault,
   volcanic lake, warehouse, water hole, water pocket, well,
   wine cellar