vase

vase
    n 1: an open jar of glass or porcelain used as an ornament or to
         hold flowers
    

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]
    

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]
    

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