receptor

English

Wikipedia

Alternative forms

• receptour (obsolete, rare)

Etymology

From Old French receptour or Latin receptor.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɹɪˈsɛptə/

Noun

receptor (plural receptors)

1. (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.
   • 2001: In the target organ, the drug is recognised by ‘receptors’. These are large molecules, usually proteins, to which the drug binds tightly and with a high degree of specificity. — Leslie Iversen, Drugs: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford 2001, p. 24)
2. (biology) Any specialized cell or structure that responds to sensory stimuli.

Derived terms

• acetylcholine receptor
• counterreceptor

Related terms

• effector

Translations

a protein on a cell wall that responds to sensory stimuli

• Czech: čidlo (cs) n

• Finnish: reseptori (fi)
• Italian: recettore (it) m

any specialized cell or structure that responds to sensory stimuli

• Finnish: reseptori (fi)

• Irish: gabhdóir (ga) m
• Italian: recettore (it) m

---

Spanish

Adjective

receptor m (feminine receptora, masculine plural receptores, feminine plural receptoras)

1. receiving

Noun

receptor m (plural receptores)

1. receiver, receptor, recipient