receive

Verb

WordNet 3.0

Verb (13)

  1. get something; come into possession of“receive payment”“receive a gift”“receive letters from the front”Synonyms: have
  2. receive a specified treatment (abstract)“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”Synonyms: getfindobtainincur
  3. register (perceptual input)“pick up a signal”Synonyms: pick up
  4. go through (mental or physical states or experiences)“get an idea”“experience vertigo”“get nauseous”“receive injuries”“have a feeling”Synonyms: experiencehaveget
  5. express willingness to have in one's home or environs“The community warmly received the refugees”Synonyms: take ininvite
  6. accept as true or valid“He received Christ”
  7. bid welcome to; greet upon arrivalSynonyms: welcome
  8. convert into sounds or pictures“receive the incoming radio signals”
  9. experience as a reaction“My proposal met with much opposition”Synonyms: meetencounter
  10. have or give a reception“The lady is receiving Sunday morning”
  11. receive as a retribution or punishment“He got 5 years in prison”Synonyms: get
  12. partake of the Holy Eucharist sacrament
  13. regard favorably or with disapproval“Her new collection of poems was not well received”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Receive \Re*ceive"\ (r[-e]*s[=e]v"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Received (r[-e]*s[=e]vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Receiving.] [OF. receveir, recevoir, F. recevoir, fr. L. recipere; pref. re- re- + capere to take, seize. See Capable, Heave, and cf. Receipt, Reception, Recipe.]

1.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. [1913 Webster]

Receyven all in gree that God us sent.— Chaucer.[1913 Webster]

2.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. [1913 Webster]

Our hearts receive your warnings.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
The idea of solidity we receive by our touch.— Locke.[1913 Webster]

3.To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to. [1913 Webster]

Many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots.— Mark vii. 4.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

They kindled a fire, and received us every one.— Acts xxviii. 2.[1913 Webster]

5.To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity for; to be able to take in. [1913 Webster]

The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings.— 1 Kings viii. 64.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Against his will he can receive no harm.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

7.To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen. [1913 Webster]

8.(Lawn Tennis) To bat back (the ball) when served. [1913 Webster]

Receiving ship, one on board of which newly recruited sailors are received, and kept till drafted for service. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To accept; take; allow; hold; retain; admit.

Usage: Receive, Accept. To receive describes simply the act of taking. To accept denotes the taking with approval, or for the purposes for which a thing is offered. Thus, we receive a letter when it comes to hand; we receive news when it reaches us; we accept a present when it is offered; we accept an invitation to dine with a friend. [1913 Webster]

Who, if we knew What we receive, would either not accept Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

Receive \Re*ceive"\ (r[-e]*s[=e]v"), v. i.

1.To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays. [1913 Webster]

2.(Lawn Tennis) To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive. [1913 Webster]

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