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receive

[ri-seev]
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verb (used with object), re·ceived, re·ceiv·ing.
  1. to take into one's possession (something offered or delivered): to receive many gifts.
  2. to have (something) bestowed, conferred, etc.: to receive an honorary degree.
  3. to have delivered or brought to one: to receive a letter.
  4. to get or be informed of: to receive instructions; to receive news.
  5. to be burdened with; sustain: to receive a heavy load.
  6. to hold, bear, or contain: The nut receives a bolt and a washer. The plaster receives the impression of the mold.
  7. to take into the mind; apprehend mentally: to receive an idea.
  8. to accept from another by hearing or listening: A priest received his confession.
  9. to meet with; experience: to receive attention.
  10. to suffer the injury of: He received a terrific blow on the forehead.
  11. to be at home to (visitors): They received their neighbors on Sunday.
  12. to greet or welcome (guests, visitors, etc.) upon arriving: They received us at the front door.
  13. to admit (a person) to a place: The butler received him and asked him to wait in the drawing room.
  14. to admit into an organization, membership, etc.: to receive someone into the group.
  15. to accept as authoritative, valid, true, or approved: a principle universally received.
  16. to react to in the manner specified: to receive a proposal with contempt; She received the job offer with joy.
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verb (used without object), re·ceived, re·ceiv·ing.
  1. to receive something.
  2. to receive visitors or guests.
  3. Radio. to convert incoming electromagnetic waves into the original signal.
  4. to receive the Eucharist: He receives every Sunday.
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Origin of receive

1250–1300; Middle English receven < Old North French receivre < Latin recipere, equivalent to re- re- + -cipere, combining form of capere to take
Related formsin·ter·re·ceive, verb (used with object), in·ter·re·ceived, in·ter·re·ceiv·ing.non·re·ceiv·ing, adjectivepre·re·ceive, verb (used with object), pre·re·ceived, pre·re·ceiv·ing.un·re·ceiv·ing, adjective

Synonyms

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11. admit, entertain, welcome.

Antonyms

1. give.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

drawearnsecuregetwinmakeseizeobtainacceptpocketcollectheartakeholdreapgainsufferundergowelcomeintroduce

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British Dictionary definitions for receive

receive

verb (mainly tr)
  1. to take (something offered) into one's hand or possession
  2. to have (an honour, blessing, etc) bestowed
  3. to accept delivery or transmission of (a letter, telephone call, etc)
  4. to be informed of (news or information)
  5. to hear and consent to or acknowledge (an oath, confession, etc)
  6. (of a vessel or container) to take or hold (a substance, commodity, or certain amount)
  7. to support or sustain (the weight of something); bear
  8. to apprehend or perceive (ideas, etc)
  9. to experience, undergo, or meet withto receive a crack on the skull
  10. (also intr) to be at home to (visitors)
  11. to greet or welcome (visitors or guests), esp in formal style
  12. to admit (a person) to a place, society, condition, etche was received into the priesthood
  13. to accept or acknowledge (a precept or principle) as true or valid
  14. to convert (incoming radio signals) into sounds, pictures, etc, by means of a receiver
  15. (also intr) tennis to play at the other end from the server; be required to return (service)
  16. (also intr) to partake of (the Christian Eucharist)
  17. (intr) mainly British to buy and sell stolen goods
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Word Origin

C13: from Old French receivre, from Latin recipere to take back, from re- + capere to take
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for receive

v.

c.1300, from Old North French receivre (Old French recoivre) "seize, take hold of, pick up; welcome, accept," from Latin recipere "regain, take back, bring back, carry back, recover; take to oneself, take in, admit," from re- "back," though the exact sense here is obscure (see re-) + -cipere, comb. form of capere "to take" (see capable). Radio and (later) television sense is attested from 1908. Related: Received; receiving.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper