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definitions

reception

[ri-sep-shuhn]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reception ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of receiving or the state of being received.
a manner of being received: The book met with a favorable reception.
a function or occasion when persons are formally received: a wedding reception.
the quality or fidelity attained in receiving radio or television broadcasts under given circumstances.

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RELATED WORDS

reaction, gathering, welcome, greeting, receiving, meeting, response, encounter, function, soiree, buffet, dinner, supper, introduction, admission, receipt, accession, acquisition, disposition, salutation

Nearby words

  1. recent,
  2. recently,
  3. recept,
  4. receptacle,
  5. receptible,
  6. reception centre,
  7. reception desk,
  8. reception room,
  9. receptionism,
  10. receptionist

Origin of reception

1350–1400; Middle English recepcion < Latin receptiōn- (stem of receptiō), equivalent to recept(us) (past participle of recipere to receive) + -iōn- -ion
Related formsnon·re·cep·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reception

British Dictionary definitions for reception

reception

noun

the act of receiving or state of being received
the manner in which something, such as a guest or a new idea, is receiveda cold reception
a formal party for guests, such as one after a wedding
an area in an office, hotel, etc, where visitors or guests are received and appointments or reservations dealt with
short for reception room
the quality or fidelity of a received radio or television broadcastthe reception was poor
British
  1. the first class in an infant school
  2. a class in a school designed to receive new immigrants, esp those whose knowledge of English is poor
  3. (as modifier)a reception teacher

Word Origin for reception

C14: from Latin receptiō a receiving, from recipere to receive
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 reception

reception

n.

late 14c., in astrology, "effect of two planets on each other;" sense of "act of receiving" is recorded from late 15c., from Latin receptionem (nominative receptio) "a receiving," noun of action from past participle stem of recipere (see receive). Sense of "ceremonial gathering" is 1882, from French.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper