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| re·cep·tor [ ri séptər ] (plural re·cep·tors) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. physiology sensitive nerve ending: a nerve ending that is sensitive to stimuli and can convert them into nerve impulses
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2. electronics receiving device: a device designed to receive electronic signals
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3. chemistry specific cell binding site or molecule: a molecule, group, or site that is in a cell or on a cell surface and binds with a specific molecule, antigen, hormone, or antibody
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4. environment receiver of pollution: somebody or something adversely affected by a pollutant
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| [15th century. Directly or via Old French receptour "person who harbors criminals or stolen goods" < Latin receptor< recipere (see receive)] |