Definition of receive

• v. t. - To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, or the like; to accept; as, to receive money offered in payment of a debt; to receive a gift, a message, or a letter.
• v. t. - Hence: To gain the knowledge of; to take into the mind by assent to; to give admission to; to accept, as an opinion, notion, etc.; to embrace.
• v. t. - To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to.
• v. t. - To give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, and the like; as, to receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc.
• v. t. - To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity for; to be able to take in.
• v. t. - To be affected by something; to suffer; to be subjected to; as, to receive pleasure or pain; to receive a wound or a blow; to receive damage.
• v. t. - To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.
• v. t. - To bat back (the ball) when served.
• v. i. - To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays.
• v. i. - To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive.