Vase

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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}.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              O sacred receptacle of my joys!       --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
            [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              No chargers then were wrought in burnished gold,
              Nor silver vases took the forming mold. --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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}.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
           [1913 Webster + PJC]
  
     3. (Bot.) The calyx of a plant.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  vase
       n : an open jar of glass or porcelain used as an ornament or to
           hold flowers

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  22 Moby Thesaurus words for "vase":
     adobe, biscuit, bisque, bowl, brick, cement, ceramic ware,
     ceramics, china, crock, crockery, enamelware, firebrick, glass,
     jug, porcelain, pot, pottery, refractory, tile, tiling, urn