noun
Common
receiver
rih-SEE-vuh
Receiver (noun) means a person or thing that receives something. Example: “The receiver of the parcel has to sign for it at the door.”
noun
1
A person or thing that receives something.
"The receiver of the parcel has to sign for it at the door."
"Every message needs a clear sender and a receiver, or it gets lost."
"As the receiver of the award, she gave a short thank-you speech."
2
An electronic device that picks up broadcast signals, or the earpiece of a phone.
"The old receiver on the kitchen shelf still picks up the local station."
"She lifted the receiver and dialled her sister's number."
"He turned up the volume on the radio receiver."
3
A person appointed to manage the assets of a company going through bankruptcy.
"The receiver sold off the shop's stock to pay back the creditors."
"Staff waited anxiously to hear what the receiver would decide about the company."
"The court appointed a receiver to oversee the failed business."
4
In American football, a player whose job is to catch passes.
"The quarterback threw a long pass, and the receiver sprinted down the field."
"He trained every morning to become a faster receiver for his college team."
"The receiver caught the ball in the end zone for a touchdown."
How to use receiver
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone or something that takes in what is sent — a person, a radio, or a football player.
Common pairings
appoint a receiver
wide receiver
phone receiver
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Word forms
- Plural
- receivers
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The _____ of the parcel has to sign for it at the door.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman receivour, later reshaped as receive plus -er.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for receiver
See all rhymes for receiver →Frequently asked questions
What does “receiver” mean?
The word “receiver” means a person or thing that receives something. In plain terms, someone or something that takes in what is sent — a person, a radio, or a football player.
How do you pronounce “receiver”?
“Receiver” is pronounced rih-SEE-vuh (/ɹəˈsi.vɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “receiver” in a sentence?
Here is “receiver” used in a sentence: “As the receiver of the award, she gave a short thank-you speech.”
What part of speech is “receiver”?
“Receiver” is a noun.
Where does the word “receiver” come from?
The word “receiver” comes from Anglo-Norman. From Anglo-Norman receivour, later reshaped as receive plus -er.
Is “receiver” a common word?
“Receiver” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “receiver” have?
“Receiver” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person or thing that receives something.
What is the difference between a receiver and a recipient?
A recipient is specifically a person who receives something, such as the recipient of an award or a letter. Receiver is broader: it can name a person or a thing that receives, and it has special uses — an electronic device, a phone earpiece, a football player, or an official who manages a bankrupt company's assets.
What does a receiver do when a company goes bankrupt?
A receiver is a person appointed, usually by a court or a lender, to manage the assets of a company going through bankruptcy. The receiver takes control of those assets and manages or sells them so that the company's debts can be repaid.
What does a wide receiver do in American football?
A wide receiver is a player whose main job is to catch passes thrown by the quarterback. Receivers typically line up near the sidelines and run planned routes to get open for the ball.
Why is a phone earpiece called a receiver?
The part of a phone you hold to your ear is called the receiver because it receives the incoming signal and turns it into sound. The word survives from the era of fixed-line phones, when "picking up the receiver" meant lifting the handset.
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