register

[ rej-uh-ster ]

noun

1. a book in which records of acts, events, names, etc., are kept.

   Synonyms: archive, ledger, record

2. a list or record of such acts, events, etc.

   Synonyms: annals, schedule, chronicle, catalog, roster, roll

3. an entry in such a book, record, or list.
4. an official document issued to a merchant ship as evidence of its nationality.
5. registration or registry.
6. a mechanical device by which certain data are automatically recorded.
7. cash register.
8. Music.
   1. the compass or range of a voice or an instrument.
   2. a part of this range produced in the same way and having the same quality:

      the head register;

      the upper register of the clarinet.

   3. (in an organ) a stop.
9. a device for controlling the flow of warmed air or the like through an opening, as from a duct to an interior, composed of a number of narrow, parallel blades, usually behind a grating, that may be adjusted so as to overlap and close the opening.
10. Photography. proper relationship between two plane surfaces in photography, as corresponding plates in photoengraving.
11. Printing.
    1. a precise adjustment or correspondence, as of lines, columns, etc., especially on the two sides of a leaf.
    2. correct relation or exact superimposition, as of colors in color printing.
12. a bookmark, especially a ribbon attached to the spine of a book.
13. Linguistics. a variety of language typically used in a specific type of communicative setting:

    an informal register;

    the register of scientific discourse.

14. Computers. a high-speed storage location in the CPU, used to store a related string of bits, as a word or phrase.

verb (used with object)

1. to enter or cause to be entered formally in a register.

   Synonyms: chronicle, catalog, record, list, enroll

2. to cause (mail) to be recorded upon delivery to a post office for safeguarding against loss, theft, damage, etc., during transmission.
3. to enroll (a student, voter, etc.) in a school or course of study, on the voting rolls, etc.
4. to indicate by a record, as instruments do:

   The thermometer registered 102 degrees today.

5. to indicate or show, as on a scale.
6. Printing. to adjust so as to secure exact correspondence; cause to be in register.
7. Military. to adjust (fire) on a known point.
8. to show (surprise, joy, anger, etc.), as by facial expression or by actions.

   Synonyms: evince, demonstrate

9. to document (a merchant ship engaged in foreign trade) by issuing a certificate of registry.

verb (used without object)

1. to enter one's name or cause it to be entered in a register; enroll:

   to register at a motel.

2. to apply for and obtain inclusion of one's name on the list of voters.
3. to enroll in a school or course of study:

   I've registered for three English classes.

4. Printing. to be in register.
5. to show:

   A broad smile registered on his face.

6. to have some effect; make some impression:

   My plea didn't register on him at all.

register

/ ˈrɛdʒɪstə /

noun

1. an official or formal list recording names, events, or transactions
2. the book in which such a list is written
3. an entry in such a list
4. a recording device that accumulates data, totals sums of money, etc

   a cash register

5. a movable plate that controls the flow of air into a furnace, chimney, room, etc
6. computing one of a set of word-sized locations in the central processing unit in which items of data are placed temporarily before they are operated on by program instructions
7. music
   1. the timbre characteristic of a certain manner of voice production See head voice chest voice
   2. any of the stops on an organ as classified in respect of its tonal quality

      the flute register

8. printing
   1. the correct alignment of the separate plates in colour printing
   2. the exact correspondence of lines of type, columns, etc, on the two sides of a printed sheet of paper
9. a form of a language associated with a particular social situation or subject matter, such as obscene slang, legal language, or journalese
10. the act or an instance of registering

verb

1. tr to enter or cause someone to enter (an event, person's name, ownership, etc) on a register; formally record
2. to show or be shown on a scale or other measuring instrument

   the current didn't register on the meter

3. to show or be shown in a person's face, bearing, etc

   his face registered surprise

4. intr to have an effect; make an impression

   the news of her uncle's death just did not register

5. to send (a letter, package, etc) by registered post
6. tr printing to adjust (a printing press, forme, etc) to ensure that the printed matter is in register
7. introften foll bywith (of a mechanical part) to align (with another part)
8. military to bring (a gun) to bear on its target by adjustment according to the accuracy of observed single rounds

Derived Forms

• ˈregistrable, adjective
• ˈregisterer, noun

Other Words From

• regis·ter·er noun
• reg·is·tra·bil·i·ty [rej-, uh, -str, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• regis·tra·ble regis·ter·a·ble adjective
• mis·regis·ter verb
• non·regis·tra·ble adjective
• pre·regis·ter verb (used with or without object)
• re·regis·ter verb
• un·regis·tra·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of register¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; (for the noun) Middle English registre, from Middle French, Old French, from Medieval Latin regestrum, registrum, alteration of Late Latin regesta “catalog, list,” noun use of neuter plural of Latin regestus “carried back, collected,” past participle of regerere “to carry back, pile up, collect,” from re- re- + gerere “to carry, conduct, display”; (for the verb) Middle English registren, from Middle French registrer, from Medieval Latin registrāre, derivative of regestrum, registrum

Word History and Origins

Origin of register¹

C14: from Medieval Latin registrum , from Latin regerere to transcribe, from re- + gerere to bear

Example Sentences

Filipinos make up nearly a fifth of registers nurses in California, according to a 2018 Board of Registered Nursing survey.

From Voice of San Diego

She doesn’t have a news anchor voice — one that is trained and practiced at staying at a low register.

From Washington Post

It can guess basic demographic information like gender, who’s an employee—based on whether they go behind the register, even interactions between employees and customers.

From MIT Technology Review

Then it wandered into Walmart and found its owner working at the register.

From Washington Post

Germany’s tech sector has hailed the government’s decision to allow some electronic-only securities—a move that paves the way for “crypto securities” to be entered into a blockchain-based register.

From Fortune

Annie Lee Cooper, well played by Winfrey, is shown trying but failing to register to vote.

From The Daily Beast

Many dance instructors register their classes at gyms and teach women or men (separately) under the name of aerobics.

From The Daily Beast

Nor are we told that she lost her job at a local nursing home after she tried to register to vote in 1964.

From The Daily Beast

“They refused to register a case, saying the matter is out of their hands,” he told me.

From The Daily Beast

Even the valor of tragedy is denied to Daisy, “a woman born with a voice that lacks a tragic register.”

From The Daily Beast

Girls are just like cats; they all like to mope around the register or the steam radiator in cold weather.

From Project Gutenberg

He scrutinized the register, and found, to his satisfaction, that a Mr. Bowman of Boston was occupying room 106.

From Project Gutenberg

You file some papers, you collate some register, you sign your name or your initials to some documents.

From Project Gutenberg

If you have written since, your letter also has miscarried, as is much the rule in this part of the world, unless you register.

From Project Gutenberg

Have just had breakfast, written up one letter, register and close this.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• enroll
• file
• join
• list
• record
• sign up