receptor
noun
re·cep·tor
ri-ˈsep-tər 
: receiver: such as
a
: a cell or group of cells that receives stimuli : sense organ
b
: a chemical group or molecule (such as a protein) on the cell surface or in the cell interior that has an affinity for a specific chemical group, molecule, or virus
Examples of receptor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One study found that azelastine could bind to a receptor that the coronavirus uses to access human cells.
—
Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Dogs have an incredibly keen sense of smell—up to 100,000 times stronger than a human's, with around 300 million receptors in their noses, according to pet food manufacturer Purina.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
How GLP-1s work GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is released from the gut after eating.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The great tree is festooned with receptors and wires.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for receptor
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Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Dogs have an incredibly keen sense of smell—up to 100,000 times stronger than a human's, with around 300 million receptors in their noses, according to pet food manufacturer Purina.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
How GLP-1s work GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is released from the gut after eating.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The great tree is festooned with receptors and wires.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for receptor
Cite this Entry
“Receptor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/receptor. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
receptor
noun
re·cep·tor
ri-ˈsep-tər
1
: a cell or group of cells that receives stimuli : sense organ
2
: a molecule (as protein) on the surface or in the inside of a cell that recognizes and joins to specific molecules causing a certain activity within the cell to begin
Medical Definition
receptor
noun
re·cep·tor
ri-ˈsep-tər
1
: a cell or group of cells that receives stimuli : sense organ
2
: a chemical group or molecule (as a protein) on the cell surface or in the cell interior that has an affinity for a specific chemical group, molecule, or virus
3
: a cellular entity (as a beta-receptor or alpha-receptor) that is a postulated intermediary between a chemical agent (as a neurohormone) acting on nervous tissue and the physiological or pharmacological response
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