RECE'IVE, v.t. [L. recipio; re and capio, to take.]

1. To take, as a thing offered or sent; to accept. He had the offer of a donation, but he would not receive it.
2. To take as due or as a reward. He received the money on the day it was payable. He received ample compensation.
3. To take or obtain from another in any manner, and either good or evil. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? – Job ii.
4. To take, as a thing communicated; as, to receive a wound by a shot; to receive a disease by contagion. The idea of solidity, we receive by our touch. – Locke.
5. To take or obtain intellectually; as, to receive an opinion or notion from others.
6. To embrace. Receive with meekness the ingrafted word. – James i.
7. To allow; to hold; to retain; as, a custom long received.
8. To admit. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. – Ps. lxxiii.
9. To welcome; to lodge and entertain; as a guest. They kindled a fire and received us every one, because of the present rain and because of the cold. – Acts xxviii.
10. To admit into membership or fellowship. Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye. – Rom. xiv.
11. To take in or on; to hold; to contain. The brazen altar was too little to receive the burnt-offering. – 1 Kings viii.
12. To be endowed with. Ye shall receive power after that the holy Spirit has come upon you. – Acts i.
13. To take into a place or state. After the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven. – Mark xvi.
14. To take or have as something ascribed; as, to receive praise or blame. – Rev. iv, 5.
15. To bear with or suffer. – 2 Cor. xi.
16. To believe in. – John i.
17. To accept or admit officially or in an official character. The minister was received by the emperor or court.
18. To take stolen goods from a thief, knowing them to be stolen. – Blackstone.

1. 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.
   
   

   Receyven all in gree that God us sent. Chaucer.

2. To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays.
3. 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.
   
   

   Our hearts receive your warnings. Shak.

   The idea of solidity we receive by our touch. Locke.

4. To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive.
5. To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to.
   
   

   Many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots. Mark vii. 4.

6. 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.
   
   

   They kindled a fire, and received us every one. Acts xxviii. 2.

7. To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity for; to be able to take in.
   
   

   The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings. 1 Kings viii. 64.

8. 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.
   
   

   Against his will he can receive no harm. Milton.

9. To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.
10. To bat back (the ball) when served.
    
    

    Receiving ship, one on board of which newly recruited sailors are received, and kept till drafted for service.

    Syn. -- To accept; take; allow; hold; retain; admit. -- Receive, Accept. To receive describes simply the act of taking. To accept denotes the taking with approval, or for the purposes for which a thing is offered. Thus, we receive a letter when it comes to hand; we receive news when it reaches us; we accept a present when it is offered; we accept an invitation to dine with a friend.

    Who, if we knew
    What we receive, would either not accept
    Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down. Milton.