acceptor

[ ak-sep-ter ]

noun

1. accepter.
2. Finance. a person who accepts a draft or bill of exchange, especially the drawee who signs the draft or bill, confirming a willingness to pay it when due.
3. Also called acceptor atom, Physics. an atom of impurity in a semiconducting crystal such that the atom can capture an electron, creating a hole in a filled electron shell and thereby changing the electric conductivity of the crystal.
4. Chemistry. an atom, ion, group of atoms, or compound that combines with, or accepts, another entity, thereby profoundly affecting physical and chemical properties:

   electron acceptor;

   water acceptor.

acceptor

/ əkˈsɛptə /

noun

1. commerce the person or organization on which a draft or bill of exchange is drawn after liability has been accepted, usually by signature
2. Also calledacceptor impurity electronics an impurity, such as gallium, added to a semiconductor material to increase its p-type conductivity by increasing the number of holes in the semiconductor Compare donor
3. electronics a circuit tuned to accept a particular frequency
4. chem the atom or group that accepts electrons in a coordinate bond

acceptor

/ ăk-sĕp′tər /

1. The reactant in an induced chemical reaction that has an increased rate of reaction in the presence of the inductor.
2. An atom or molecule that receives one or more electrons from another atom or molecule, resulting in a chemical bond or flow of electric current.
3. Compare donorSee also electron carrier

Word History and Origins

Origin of acceptor¹

1350–1400; Middle English, in phrase acceptour of persones; accept + -or ², or (< Anglo-French acceptour ) < Latin acceptor, equivalent to accep-, variant stem of accipere to receive, get ( accept ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

"It was quite surprising to find that a modern electron acceptor like F5H had partnered with an ancient protein to develop new biochemical machinery that synthesizes the advanced lignin structure."

From Science Daily

This phenomenon arises from the creation of an acceptor level capable of accommodating electrons in the absence of sufficient oxygen, thereby enabling the material to function as a p-type semiconductor.

From Science Daily

The research team further revealed that Y6-PAs exhibit higher miscibility with the donor polymer compared to small molecular acceptors of the same type.

From Science Daily

"In semiconductor physics, we have already strategically used defects that we call donors or acceptors, which help us build diodes and transistors. So strategically, defects can certainly help us build up new kinds of technologies."

From Science Daily

Luo explains that glycerol acts as a hydrogen donor and choline chloride acts as a hydrogen acceptor.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• adherent
• devotee
• disciple
• follower
• supporter
• zealot