socket

1 of 2

noun

sock·​et ˈsä-kət How to pronounce socket (audio)
: 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
Roast for 2½ to 3 hours, until a leg easily wiggles out of its socket and the potatoes are tender. Ali Slagle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 That’s because Indonesia uses Type C sockets for round-pin plugs rather than the straight-pin plugs used in the U.S. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 Knead the putty thoroughly to mix the two parts, then jam the wad into the socket. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 But among those show-stopping attractions are the smaller details: the beds that are sinfully comfortable and deep, USB A and C ports that are integrated into every socket. Tom Weijand, Robb Report, 15 Feb. 2024 Annie has stabilized his tib-fib fracture, popped his shoulder back in its socket and started him on Novril, a highly addictive painkiller. Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2024 Cherry developed a new proprietary lubrication mix and technique for applying the slippery stuff to the socket dome in the key’s rear housing. Popular Science, 29 Nov. 2023 Each vampire tap had a D-type connector socket in it, consisting of a plug with nine pins that matched to a socket with nine jacks. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Nov. 2023 The dog tore through the house and yard and nearly pulled our shoulders out of their sockets on walks. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 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 Pinch off the fuel line with a pair of locking pliers, place a piece of shop towel under the carburetor to catch spilled fuel, and use a socket wrench and socket to remove the carburetor’s float bowl. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023 Pinch off the fuel line with a pair of locking pliers, place a piece of shop towel under the carburetor to catch spilled fuel, and use a socket wrench and socket to remove the carburetor’s float bowl. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023 Instead, three four-bay modules are socketed into the base-model chassis' nine 5.25-inch open bays. Jim Salter, Ars Technica, 8 July 2019 This processor is paired with up to 64GB socketed, user-serviceable RAM. Peter Bright, Ars Technica, 23 Nov. 2018 The processor is socketed, along with some other components, but the machine was not designed to be upgraded or serviced in this way. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 14 Dec. 2017 Men who couldn’t handle a drill and socket wrench if their lives depended on it love a good duct tape challenge. Southern Living, 1 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'socket.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of socket was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near socket

Cite this Entry

“Socket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socket. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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 How to pronounce socket (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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