Etymology : Middle English, from Old North French receivre, from Latin recipere, from re- + capere to take; more at HEAVE
Pronunciation : ri-sEv
Function : verb
Date : 14th century
1. get, accept; absorb, take in; host, accommodate. receive\re*ceive"\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. received ; p. pr. & vb. n. receiving.] [of. receiver, recevoir, f. recevoir, fr. l. recipere; pref. re- re- + capere to take, seize. see:
see capable, heave, and cf. receipt, reception, recipe.].
2. to take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, or the like; to accept; as, to receive money offered in payment of a debt; to receive a gift, a message, or a letter. receyven all in gree that god us sent.
3. hence: to gain the knowledge of; to take into the mind by assent to; to give admission to; to accept, as an opinion, notion, etc.; to embrace. our hearts receive your warnings. the idea of solidity we receives by our touch.
4. to allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to. many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots.
5. 4. to give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, and the like; as, to receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc. they kindled a fire, and received us every one. ii.
6. 5. to admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity fro; to be able to take in. the brazen altar that was before the lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings. iii.
7. 6. to be affected by something; to suffer; to be subjected to; as, to receive pleasure or pain; to receive a wound or a blow; to receive damage. against his will he can receive no harm.
8. to take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.
9. (lawn tennis) to bat back (the ball) when served.
10. To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, or the like; to accept; as, to receive money offered in payment of a debt; to receive a gift, a message, or a letter.
11. Hence: To gain the knowledge of; to take into the mind by assent to; to give admission to; to accept, as an opinion, notion, etc.; to embrace.
12. To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to.
13. To give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, and the like; as, to receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc.
14. To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity for; to be able to take in.
15. To be affected by something; to suffer; to be subjected to; as, to receive pleasure or pain; to receive a wound or a blow; to receive damage.
16. To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.
17. To bat back when served.
18. To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays.
19. To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive. convert into sounds or pictures; "receive the incoming radio signals" receive a specified treatment ; "These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation"; "His movie received a good review"; "I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions" regard favorably or with disapproval; "Her new collection of poems was not well received" accept as true or valid; "He received Christ" partake of the Holy Eucharist sacrament express willingness to have in one's home or environs; "The community warmly received the refugees" get something; come into possession of; "receive payment"; "receive a gift"; "receive letters from the front" have or give a reception; "The lady is receiving Sunday morning".
20. 1. When you receive something, you get it after someone gives it to you or sends it to you. They will receive their awards at a ceremony in Stockholm I received your letter of November.
21. = get.
22. You can use receive to say that certain kinds of thing happen to someone. For example if they are injured, you can say that they received an injury. He received more of the blame than anyone when the plan failed to work She was suffering from whiplash injuries received in a car crash.
23. When you receive a visitor or a guest, you greet them. The following evening the duchess was again receiving guests.
24. If you say that something is received in a particular way, you mean that people react to it in that way. The resolution had been received with great disappointment within the PLO.
25. When a radio or television receives signals that are being transmitted, it picks them up and converts them into sound or pictures. The reception was a little faint but clear enough for him to receive the signal.
26. If you are on the receiving end or at the receiving end of something unpleasant, you are the person that it happens to. You saw hate in their eyes and you were on the receiving end of that hate.