socket

1 of 2

noun

sock·​et ˈsä-kət 

: an opening or hollow that forms a holder for something

an electric bulb socket

the eye socket

socket

2 of 2

verb

socketed; socketing; sockets

transitive verb

: to provide with or support in or by a socket

Examples of socket in a Sentence

Noun

She plugged the lamp into the socket.

He screwed the light bulb into the socket.

His shoulder popped out of its socket.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For a few extra dirhams, a first-class ticket will get you a large seat with a table and socket, though a change at Kenifra is necessary. —Elle Benson Easton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024

These sockets are handmade by a prosthetist who then fits them to the polycentric knee and the blade foot. —Jothy Rosenberg, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Verb

Last year, the company extended support for Ryzen 5000 CPUs to all socket AM4 systems, including motherboards with 300-series chipsets that date all the way back to 2017. —Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 30 June 2023

This time, make-up artist Scott Barnes eschewed brown and beige neutrals in favor of a different color spectrum, dusting different shades of grey from lash line to socket. —Georgia Day, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English soket, from Anglo-French, diminutive of soc plowshare, of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish soc plowshare, snout; akin to Old English sugu sow — more at sow

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing socket

• ball-and-socket joint
• eye socket
• socket wrench

Kids Definition

socket

noun

sock·​et

ˈsäk-ət

: an opening or hollow that forms a holder for something

the eye socket

screwed the light bulb into the socket

Medical Definition

socket

noun

sock·​et ˈsäk-ət 

: an opening or hollow that forms a holder for something: as

a

: any of various hollows in body structures in which some other part normally lodges

the bony socket of the eye

an inflamed tooth socket

especially : the depression in a bone with which the rounded head of another bone fits in a ball-and-socket joint

b

: a cavity terminating an artificial limb into which the bodily stump fits see suction socket