rə̇ˈsēv, rēˈ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English receiven, from Old North French receivre, from Latin recipere to take back, take, accept, receive, from re- + -cipere (from capere to take) — more at heave
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to take possession or delivery of
receive a gift
receive a letter
(2) : to knowingly accept (stolen goods)
suspected of receiving the stolen jewels
b. : to give attention to : listen to
receive his confession
refused to receive advice from his friends
2.
a. : to take in : act as a receptacle or container for
a great interior lake received this young giant among rivers — Tom Marvel
b. : to take in through the mind or senses
any young, active mind that was ready to receive ideas — M.R.Cohen
at an age when he was most ready to receive new impressions
c. : contain , hold
too small to receive the burnt offering — 1 Kings 8:64 (Revised Standard Version)
3.
a. : to give accommodation, protection, or refuge to : harbor
go back to a husband who was still ready to receive her — Atlantic
b. of a female mammal : accept 8
4.
a. : to admit or accept in some character or capacity
received him as a colleague
would not receive her as his son's wife
b. : to admit to a place, faith, group, or condition
they were received both at the tribal fire and at the trading post — American Guide Series: Minnesota
having shortly before abandoned his skepticism and been received into the Catholic faith — H.W.H.Knott
5.
a. : to welcome on arrival : greet
the small lady who received them at his house — William Black
b. : to give a formal and official welcome to
shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers — U.S. Constitution
c. : to greet or react to in a specified manner
began his first concert tour, on which he was well received — Current Biography
the academic world received it with hostility — Max Lerner
6.
a. : to acquiesce in or submit to : endure willingly
couldn't unquestioningly receive acceptance by these white patients — F.A.Perry
b. : to support the weight or pressure of : bear
receives the weight of the world on his shoulders
c. : to take (a mark or impression) from the weight or pressure of something
the ground was too hard to receive a footprint
his tenderer cheek receives her soft hand's print — Shakespeare
d. : to undergo the impact of or interrupt the course of : catch , intercept
get their full share of light, receiving the cooler level rays of the rising and setting sun — Andrew Young
available to receive the discharge of such emotions — R.M.Weaver
7.
a. : to come into possession of : acquire
received his early education in the public schools
received his medical training abroad
b. : to meet with : experience
a book that has never received the attention it deserves
has received love and understanding from those around him
c. : to be exposed or subjected to : suffer
received the royal displeasure on one occasion — Harvey Graham
d. : to be hurt or damaged by (a specified blow or injury)
received a mortal wound
received a broken nose
e. : to be placed under the burden, charge, or constraint of : be made subject to
received a heavy sentence from the judge
received written orders from the commanding general
received a subpoena
8.
a. : to partake of (the eucharistic sacrament)
b. : to take in at the mouth
for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air — Shakespeare
receive nourishment
9.
a. : to accept as true or valid : recognize as authoritative : believe
attacked received theological and philosophical opinion on the nature of the universe — British Book News
the material theory of heat, the idea of caloric, which was generally received until the 1850's — S.F.Mason
b. : to admit as evidence
no objection to the ice pick being received in evidence — Erle Stanley Gardner
intransitive verb
1. : to be a recipient
more blessed to give than to receive — Acts 20:35 (Authorized Version)
2. : to take the eucharistic sacrament : take Communion
3. : to be at home to visitors
she receives on Tuesdays
4. : to catch pitched balls in a baseball game
worked hard on his receiving — Lou Boudreau
5. : to convert incoming radio waves into perceptible signals
Synonyms:
accept , admit , take : although receive can sometimes suggest a positive welcoming or recognition
receive the group with open arms
the work has been received with enthusiasm — Current Biography
it usually implies that something comes or is allowed to come into one's presence, possession, group, consciousness, or substance while one is passive
receive military instruction
receive a gift
be received into the church
accept adds to this the notion of positive acquiescence or consent even though tacit
accept a gift
accept an appointment
accept an apology
accept a new member into a club
admit suggests permission given or sufferance granted to come or enter
admit an ambassador into one's presence
admit new members into a club
a door wide enough to admit a small car
take carries the notion of accepting or, more commonly, of making no positive protest against receiving, often of almost welcoming on principle, something offered, conferred, or inflicted
take a plate when it is passed to you
take advice in good spirit
take a good deal of punishment before protesting