receive

ri-SEEV/ɹɪˈsiːv/

11 meanings of receive

1
getverbtransitive
To get something that someone gives, sends, offers, or pays to you.
Like a mailbox that holds the letters people send to you.
I receive a letter from my grandmother every week.
She received her paycheck at the end of the month.
UsageWrite ei after c: receive (not ~~incorrect: recieve~~). You receive something from someone.
2
public reactionverbtransitive
To react to something or someone in a certain way, as in "The film was well received."
Her new song was received with cheers by her fans.
I hope my friends receive my idea warmly.
UsageUsually said with a word that tells how: well received, received with cheers.
Similargreet, regard
3
welcome guestsverbtransitive
To welcome guests into your home or let visitors come in to see you.
Like opening your front door to let friends come inside.
They receive friends at their home every Sunday.
The king received visitors in the great hall.
Similarhost, welcome, admit, entertain

Less common meanings

4
verbarchaictransitive or intransitive
To take an idea into your mind and understand it.
I cannot receive [translating recevoir] that manner, whereby we establish the continuance of our life.
1603, Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes
Similarabsorb, grasp, understand, assimilate
Note
5
suffer harmverbtransitive
To get an injury from something that happens to you.
He received a deep cut while chopping wood.
Players often receive bruises during rough games.
Similarsuffer, sustain, incur
Oppositeinflict
6
stolen goodsverbtransitive
To take goods that you know have been stolen.
Dealers who receive stolen goods face serious charges.
The fence received stolen jewelry from local thieves.
UsageUsually said as receive stolen goods or receive stolen property.
Similarhandle
7
football catchverbtransitive or intransitive
To be ready to catch a ball thrown forward in American football.
Like standing with open arms, ready to catch a thrown ball.
He lined up wide, ready to receive on the next play.
On this play, the tight end blocks instead of running out to receive.
Note
8
pick up signalsverbtransitive
To pick up a signal that is being sent out.
Like ears picking up a faraway sound.
The radio receives stations from across the country.
Our antenna can receive signals from far away.
UsageUsually said of a radio, dish or antenna. The opposite is transmit (send out).
Similardetect, get
Oppositetransmit
9
accept beliefverbtransitive
To accept a custom or belief as true or proper.
Like keeping an old family recipe because everyone trusts it.
Early Christians received the Hebrew Bible as holy scripture.
Many people in the town still receive the old legend as true.
UsageMost often seen in received wisdom: ideas people accept without checking them.
Similaraccept, embrace, adopt
Oppositereject
Note
10
return serveverbtransitive or intransitive
To be ready to hit back a serve in a racket game.
Like getting set to hit a ball back across the net.
She stood at the baseline, ready to receive.
She won the coin toss and chose to receive first.
UsageOften said as receive serve, or just ready to receive.
Similarreturn
Oppositeserve
Note
11
noun
An action where a device takes in data that is sent to it.

Practice

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Origin

From Latin recipere, meaning to take back or accept, made from re- ("back") and capiō ("to take"). It came into English through Old French.