Word
receptor
Phoneticsre·cep·tor
US/ɹiˈsɛptɝ/
UK/ɹɪsˈɛptɐ/
Definitions
01cell biology
n. a protein on the surface of a cell that catches specific chemicals to tell the cell what to do.
n. a protein molecule, usually on a cell membrane, that binds to a specific ligand to initiate a cellular response.
“The virus enters the body by attaching itself to a specific receptor on the surface of lung cells.”
“Pharmacologists design drugs that specifically target the dopamine receptor to treat neurological conditions without affecting other systems.”
Technical
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'for' to indicate the specific molecule it binds to.
Synonyms
03one who receives
n. a person who receives something or hides someone who is running away.
n. a person who receives or harbors another, particularly a fugitive or criminal.
“In the old story, the receptor of the stolen goods was also punished by the king.”
“The statute from the seventeenth century clearly defined the punishment for any receptor of a known rebel.”
Archaic
Teaching tip
This sense is extremely rare in modern English; students will likely only encounter it in historical legal texts or very old literature.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“And because the retina has no pain receptors, it's hard for people to notice the damage as it happens, so symptoms may only appear several hours later.” “There are four types of histamine receptors in the body.” “Packed with GLP-1 receptors, it may act as a crucial control point between thinking about a reward and feeling compelled to pursue it.” Etymology
From Middle English receptour, from Old French receptour or Latin receptōrius, from recipiō (“receive”), from re- (“back”) + capiō (“I hold”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/receptor