Definition of receive | Collins English Dictionary

receive (rɪˈsiːv)

to take (something offered) into one's hand or possession
to have (an honour, blessing, etc) bestowed
to accept delivery or transmission of (a letter, telephone call, etc)
to be informed of (news or information)
to hear and consent to or acknowledge (an oath, confession, etc)
(of a vessel or container) to take or hold (a substance, commodity, or certain amount)
to support or sustain (the weight of something); bear
to apprehend or perceive (ideas, etc)
to experience, undergo, or meet with ⇒ to receive a crack on the skull
(also intr) to be at home to (visitors)
to greet or welcome (visitors or guests), esp in formal style
to admit (a person) to a place, society, condition, etc ⇒ he was received into the priesthood
to accept or acknowledge (a precept or principle) as true or valid
to convert (incoming radio signals) into sounds, pictures, etc, by means of a receiver
(also intr) tennis to play at the other end from the server; be required to return (service)
(also intr) to partake of (the Christian Eucharist)
(intr) mainly British to buy and sell stolen goods

C13: from Old French receivre , from Latin recipere to take back, from re- + capere to take

View thesaurus entry

= get, accept, be given pick up, collect, obtain, acquire, take, derive, be in receipt of accept delivery of reCv

= experience, suffer, bear, go through, encounter, meet with, sustain, undergo, be subjected to reCv

= greet, meet, admit, welcome, entertain, take in, accommodate, be at home to reCv

= react to take, hear, listen to respond to reCv

= be informed of hear, learn, discover, be told gather, perceive, find out about apprehend, be made aware of reCv

= buy, reCv

British English: receive When you receive something, you get it after someone gives it to you or sends it to you.They will receive their awards at the ceremony this evening.rɪˈsiːv VERB They will receive their awards at the ceremony this evening.
Spanish: recibir v
French: recevoir vt
German: erhalten v
Chinese: 收到 v
Arabic: يَسْتَلِمُ v
Portuguese: receber v
Russian: получать v
Croatian: primiti v
Czech: obdržet v
Danish: modtage v
Dutch: ontvangen v
Finnish: saada v
Greek: λαμβάνω v
Italian: ricevere v
Japanese: 受け取る v
Korean: 받다 v
Norwegian: motta v
Polish: otrzymać v otrzymywać
Brazilian Portuguese: receber v
European Spanish: recibir v
Swedish: ta emot v
Thai: ได้รับ v
Turkish: almak v
Vietnamese: nhận v

The reception was faint but clear enough for him to receive the signal.
Forbes, Colin, Cover Story (1986)
Investors can buy their own room in a hotel on a 999-year leasehold basis and receive around half of that hotel room's income.
Country Life (2005)
Almost immediately on his arrival in the diocese in 1984, Dr Comiskey began to receive complaints about Father Fortune.
Irish Times (2002)
For finer colours It is uplifting to receive a missive from a Rangers supporter who is doing his best to look on the bright side of life.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
They are creative in their expression of love and while generous with little gifts, they love to receive them even more.
Michael Geary, MOON ASTROLOGY FOR LOVERS (2002)