The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Reception \Re*cep"tion\ (r[-e]*s[e^]p"sh[u^]n), n. [F.
   r['e]ception, L. receptio, fr. recipere, receptum. See
   Receive.]
   1. The act of receiving; receipt; admission; as, the
      reception of food into the stomach; the reception of a
      letter; the reception of sensation or ideas; reception of
      evidence.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The state of being received.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The act or manner of receiving, especially of receiving
      visitors; entertainment; hence, an occasion or ceremony of
      receiving guests; as, a hearty reception; an elaborate
      reception.
      [1913 Webster]

            What reception a poem may find.       --Goldsmith.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Acceptance, as of an opinion or doctrine.
      [1913 Webster]

            Philosophers who have quitted the popular doctrines
            of their countries have fallen into as extravagant
            opinions as even common reception countenanced.
                                                  --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. A retaking; a recovery. [Obs.] --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

reception
    n 1: the manner in which something is greeted; "she did not
         expect the cold reception she received from her superiors"
         [syn: reception, response]
    2: a formal party of people; as after a wedding
    3: quality or fidelity of a received broadcast
    4: the act of receiving [syn: reception, receipt]
    5: (American football) the act of catching a pass in football;
       "the tight end made a great reception on the 20 yard line"