Apple dock

A cradle with a vertical plug (Apple 8-pin Lightning or Apple 30-pin) onto which an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is docked to play music and/or to charge the unit. The dock is built into self-amplified speakers or music boxes, or it is a stand-alone unit that connects via USB to a computer, charger or home theater equipment. See Apple dock connector.

Apple's Universal Dock

The dock provides a base station for connecting an iPod or iPhone to a computer or music system. Apple's tiny iPod Shuffle did not use a dock connector. (Image courtesy of Apple Inc.)

A Music Source for an Onkyo Receiver

This iPod dock was an Onkyo product that plugged directly into the back of an Onkyo A/V receiver. The dock used the earlier 30-pin plug. See Apple dock connector.