Power Outlet: Definition, Types, and Usage

Meaning 1：wall socket (Power Outlet)

Power Outlet 🔊

/ˈpaʊər ˈaʊtˌlɛt/

It's the socket in the wall where you plug in electrical devices to give them power.

White power outlet on beige wall with plug insertion

wall socket 🔊

➕

/wɔːl ˈsɒkɪt/

A power outlet is a socket in a wall, floor, or panel that provides electrical power to connected devices via a plug.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Compound of 'power' (from Latin *posse*, to be able) and 'outlet' (from Old English *ūt* + *lǣtan*, to let out).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of an outlet as a power 'out-let': it lets energy out to your devices, like a tap lets water out.

📖 Example

I need to charge my phone; where's the nearest power outlet in this café? 🔊 I need to charge my phone; where's the nearest power outlet in this café?

🔗 Collocations

power outlet cover – A protective cover for a power outlet

outlet tester – A device to test electrical outlets

outlet wiring – The electrical wiring connected to an outlet

🔄 Synonyms

wall socket (n.) – Another term for a power outlet, usually mounted on a wall.

electric socket (n.) – A socket that provides electric current.

receptacle (n.) – A technical term for an electrical outlet.

📖 Cultural Story

The term emerged during the late 19th century with the widespread adoption of electrical power, describing the point where electricity is 'let out' from a circuit into a device.