receptor

noun re·cep·tor \ ri-ˈsep-tər \

|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Definition of receptor

: 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

See receptor defined for English-language learners

See receptor defined for kids

Recent Examples of receptor from the Web

New tactics Opioids, which activate specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord and elsewhere, can cause euphoria that leads to addiction.

— brian gormley, WSJ, "The Heated Quest for Opioid Alternatives," 25 May 2018
These, coupled with hundreds of other chemical receptors, are likely the reason cockroaches are such effective scavengers, the researchers report today in Nature Communications.

— kimberly hickok, Science | AAAS, "American cockroaches thrive in cities, thanks to their incredibly long genomes," 20 Mar. 2018
The windows are covered with heavy shades and curtains, sealing the dining room from the world outside in an artificial twilight of pink and orange lights, a hazy glow that benefits neither the food nor the color receptors of the human eye.

— mike sutter, San Antonio Express-News, "Review: India Oven brings the heat on West Avenue," 12 July 2018
Enzalutamide works by shutting down the receptor on the cancer cell that receives hormones like testosterone.

— renae reints, Fortune, "New Treatment for Aggressive Prostate Cancer Shows 71% Lower Risk of Spread or Death," 28 June 2018
This door, or receptor, is found on cells in the intestines, and in motor nerves in the spinal cord, which explains why poliovirus infection causes paralysis.

— alice park, Time, "Polio Virus Could Help Treat Brain Cancer. Here's How," 26 June 2018
The second type of immunotherapy, used mostly with blood cancers, involves chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.

— cindy goodman, miamiherald, "Immunotherapy is giving some cancer patients a new life when they had all but given up," 25 May 2018
Another company, Merck, tried to block the CGRP receptor with a different small compound.

— emily underwood, Science | AAAS, "Will antibodies finally put an end to migraines?," 18 May 2018
Oddly, the receptor is an immunoregulator thought to be expressed by blood-forming cells, specifically immune progenitor cells in the bone marrow.

— diana gitig, Ars Technica, "We’ve found the cells norovirus targets—we just don’t know what they do," 14 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'receptor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of receptor

1898

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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RECEPTOR Defined for English Language Learners

receptor

noun

Definition of receptor for English Language Learners

biology : a nerve ending that senses changes in light, temperature, pressure, etc., and causes the body to react in a particular way

RECEPTOR Defined for Kids

receptor

noun re·cep·tor \ ri-ˈsep-tər \

Definition of receptor for Students

: a cell that receives a stimulus (as light or heat) and activates an associated nerve to send a message to the brain and that may be grouped into a sense organ (as a taste bud)

Medical Dictionary

receptor

noun re·cep·tor \ ri-ˈsep-tər \

medical Definition of receptor

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