receiver

[ ri-see-ver ]

noun

1. a person or thing that receives.
2. a device or apparatus that receives electrical signals, waves, or the like, and renders them perceptible to the senses, as the part of a telephone held to the ear, a radio receiving set, or a television receiving set.
3. Law. a person appointed by a court to manage the affairs of a bankrupt business or person or to care for property in litigation.
4. Commerce. a person appointed to receive money due.
5. a person who knowingly receives stolen goods for an illegal purpose; a dealer in stolen merchandise.
6. a device or apparatus for receiving or holding something; receptacle; container.
7. (in a firearm) the basic metal unit housing the action and to which the barrel and other components are attached.
8. Chemistry. a vessel for collecting and containing a distillate.
9. Football. a player on the offensive team who catches, is eligible to catch, or is noted for the ability to catch a forward pass:

   Jones was the receiver of the first pass thrown. He sent all his receivers downfield.

10. Baseball. the catcher.

receiver

/ rɪˈsiːvə /

noun

1. a person who receives something; recipient
2. a person appointed by a court to manage property pending the outcome of litigation, during the infancy of the owner, or after the owner(s) has been declared bankrupt or of unsound mind
3. a person who receives stolen goods knowing that they have been stolen
4. the equipment in a telephone, radio, or television that receives incoming electrical signals or modulated radio waves and converts them into the original audio or video signals
5. the part of a telephone containing the earpiece and mouthpiece that is held by the telephone user
6. the equipment in a radar system, radio telescope, etc, that converts incoming radio signals into a useful form, usually displayed on the screen of a cathode-ray oscilloscope
7. an obsolete word for receptacle
8. chem a vessel in which the distillate is collected during distillation
9. sport a player whose function is to receive the ball, esp a footballer who catches long passes
10. the metallic frame situated behind the breech of a gun to guide the round into the chamber

receiver

/ rĭ-sē′vər /

1. A device, as in a radio or telephone, that converts incoming radio, microwave, or electrical signals to a form, such as sound or light, that can be perceived by humans.
2. Compare transmitter

Other Words From

• prere·ceiver noun
• under·re·ceiver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of receiver¹

1300–50; 1875–80 receiver fordef 2; receive + -er ¹; replacing Middle English recevour < Anglo-French receivour, recevour (< Old French recevere )

Example Sentences

“Keary Colbert is one of my best friends,” Foster said, referring to the former USC wide receiver who was a teammate for four seasons with the Carolina Panthers.

From Los Angeles Times

He is second on the team in catches and fourth in yards, just two yards behind receiver Quentin Johnston.

From Los Angeles Times

Herbert missed receivers high, he missed them low, and he missed them wide.

From Los Angeles Times

“I get it once a week. Try to be consistent so they don’t get too bad. As a wide receiver, these are my moneymakers so I’ve got to take care of them.”

From Los Angeles Times

He throws up what looks like a jump ball until you realize the pass actually is directed to a leaping receiver.

From Los Angeles Times