register

1 of 3

noun (1)

reg·​is·​ter ˈre-jə-stər 

1

: a written record containing regular entries of items or details

2

a

: a book or system of public records

b

: a roster of qualified or available individuals

a civil service register

3

: an entry in a register

4

a

: a set of organ pipes of like quality : stop

b(1)

: the range of a human voice or a musical instrument

(2)

: a portion of such a range similarly produced or of the same quality

c

: any of the varieties of a language that a speaker uses in a particular social context

5

: a grille often with shutters for admitting heated air or for ventilation

6

: registration, registry

7

a

: an automatic device registering a number or a quantity

b

: a number or quantity so registered

c

: cash register

8

: a condition of correct alignment or proper relative position

9

: a device (as in a computer) for storing small amounts of data

especially : one in which data can be both stored and operated on

register

2 of 3

verb

registered; registering ˈre-jə-st(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to make or secure official entry of in a register

b

: to enroll formally especially as a voter or student

c

: to record automatically : indicate

d

: to make a record of : note

e

: perceive

also : comprehend

2

: to make or adjust so as to correspond exactly

3

: to secure special protection for (a piece of mail) by prepayment of a fee

4

: to convey an impression of : express

5

: achieve

registered an impressive victory

intransitive verb

1

a

: to enroll one's name in a register

registered at the hotel

b

: to enroll one's name officially as a prerequisite for voting

c

: to enroll formally as a student

2

a

: to correspond exactly

b

: to be in correct alignment or register

3

: to make or convey an impression

register

3 of 3

noun (2)

: registrar

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• canon
• catalog
• catalogue
• checklist
• list
• listing
• menu
• registry
• roll
• roll call
• roster
• schedule
• table

Verb

• enroll
• enrol
• inscribe
• list
• matriculate

Noun (2)

• clerk
• registrar
• scribe
• secretary

Examples of register in a Sentence

Noun (1)

check the voter register to see if it has my current party affiliation

Verb

He registered the birth of his child.

She registered her new car.

The car was registered under my name.

The company registered its trademark.

Only 32 cases of the disease have been registered.

Did you register to vote?

She is busy registering the students.

Roast the meat for two hours or until the meat thermometer registers 140 degrees.

an earthquake that registered 6.3 on the Richter scale

The team finally registered a victory after losing three games in a row.

Noun (2)

ask the county register for a copy of your birth certificate

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But its descendants are all around us—foremost in the ubiquitous self-checkout register—all thanks to the revolution that began 50 years ago, when Sharon Buchanan swiped Clyde Dawson’s gum. —Kovie Biakolo, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2024

At the register, the store manager took one look at the gift cards and tried to stop him, the man said; the manager had seen this before. —Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 15 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English registre, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin registrum, alteration of Late Latin regesta, plural, register, from Latin, neuter plural of regestus, past participle of regerere to bring back, pile up, collect, from re- + gerere to bear

Noun (2)

Middle English, probably alteration of registrer

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing register

• call/take the register
• cash register
• church register
• register office
• register ton
• re-register

Kids Definition

register

1 of 3 noun

reg·​is·​ter ˈrej-ə-stər 

1

a

: a written record or list of items

b

: a book for such a record

a register of deeds

2

: a part of the range of a human voice or a musical instrument made up of tones similarly produced or of the same quality

3

: a device (as in a floor or wall) that regulates the flow of heated air from a furnace

4

a

: an automatic device registering a number or a quantity

b

: a number or quantity registered by such a device

register

2 of 3 verb

registered; registering -st(ə-)riŋ 

1

a

: to record exactly and legally in a register

register a will

b

: to enroll especially as a voter or student

c

: to record automatically : indicate

the thermometer registered zero

2

: to get special protection for (a piece of mail) by prepayment of a fee

3

: to show by expression and bodily movements alone

your face registered surprise

4

: to write one's name in a register

register at a hotel

register for the draft

5

: to make an impression

your name didn't register with me

register

3 of 3 noun

: registrar

Legal Definition

register

1 of 2 noun

reg·​is·​ter ˈre-jə-stər 

1

: a written record containing regular entries of items or details

specifically : police register

2

a

: a book or system of public records (as titles or patents)

b

: a roster of qualified or available individuals

c

: the formal record maintained by a corporation of the names and addresses of holders of its registered securities

3

: registry

4

[probably alteration of Middle English registrer registrar] : registrar

register

2 of 2 verb

registered; registering

transitive verb

1

: to make or secure official entry of in a register

register a car

register a title

2

: to enroll formally especially as a voter or student

3

: to secure special protection for (a piece of mail) by prepayment of a fee

intransitive verb

1

: to enroll one's name in a register

2

: to enroll one's name officially as a prerequisite for voting

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French registre, from Medieval Latin registrum, alteration of Late Latin regesta, pl., register, from Latin, neuter plural of regestus, past participle of regerere to bring back, pile up, collect