What does "reception" mean?

1. (hotel or office desk) the place in a hotel or office where you go when you first arrive. 2. (signal quality) the quality of a radio, television, or mobile phone signal. 3. (formal party) a formal social event or party to welcome someone or celebrate something. 4. (reaction or welcome) the way people react to a new idea, book, or person. 5. (first year of school) the first year of school for young children, before Year 1. 6. (catching a ball) the act of catching a pass in a game like American football.

reception — meaning, definition & examples

Word

01hotel or office desk

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun

n. the place in a hotel or office where you go when you first arrive.

n. the area or desk in a commercial establishment where guests or clients are greeted and processed upon arrival.

“Please leave your room key at reception when you go out for the day.”

“The visitor was asked to wait at the reception desk while the assistant notified the manager of his arrival.”

Synonyms

front desklobby

02signal quality

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Electronics

n. the quality of a radio, television, or mobile phone signal.

n. the efficiency or clarity with which a device receives broadcast or telecommunication signals.

“I am sorry I missed your call; the phone reception is very poor in the mountains.”

“The technician explained that the thick concrete walls of the basement were responsible for the intermittent television reception.”

Synonyms

signal coverage

03formal party

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a formal social event or party to welcome someone or celebrate something.

n. a formal social occasion held to welcome guests or celebrate a specific event, such as a wedding.

“The wedding reception was held in a beautiful garden near the lake.”

“Following the keynote speech, the university hosted a formal reception where faculty members could interact with the visiting scholars.”

Synonyms

party function gathering

04reaction or welcome

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. the way people react to a new idea, book, or person.

n. the manner in which something or someone is greeted or responded to by an audience.

“The author's new book got a very warm reception from the critics.”

“The proposed policy changes met with a hostile reception from the local community during the town hall meeting.”

Synonyms

response reaction welcome

05first year of school

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Education British English

n. the first year of school for young children, before Year 1.

n. the first year of primary school for children aged four to five, preceding Year 1.

“My daughter is starting reception this September and she is very excited.”

“The curriculum in reception focuses heavily on social development and basic literacy through play-based learning.”

Usage

Often used as a modifier, as in 'reception class' or 'reception teacher'.

Synonyms

kindergarten

06catching a ball

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Sports American English

n. the act of catching a pass in a game like American football.

n. the successful catching of a forward pass by an eligible receiver.

“The wide receiver made a spectacular reception right on the touchline.”

“He finished the season with over eighty receptions, breaking the previous franchise record for a rookie players in his position.”

Synonyms

catch

From Middle English recepcion, reception, from Middle French reception, from Latin receptiōn- (“the act of receiving; reception”), from recipiō (“receive”), from re- (“back”) + capiō (“to hold”). Equivalent to receive + -tion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VERB

NOUN

reception(A2)

ADJECTIVE