receptor
/ɹɪˈsɛp.tə/ noun
Forms receptors
- noun (biochemistry, medicine) A protein on a cell wall that binds with specific molecules so that they can be absorbed into the cell in order to control certain functions.
- noun (biology) Any specialized cell or structure that responds to sensory stimuli.
- noun (obsolete) One who receives something or someone; in particular, one who harbors a fugitive.
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Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English receptour, from Old French receptour or Latin receptōrius, from recipiō (“receive”), from re- (“back”) + capiō (“to hold”).
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “receptor”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details