receptors
noun
Form of receptor , plural of receptor.
Simple meaning
A protein on a cell wall that binds with specific molecules so that they can be absorbed into the cell to control certain functions.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
ruhsehpterzSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ɹəˈsɛptɚz
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
plural of receptorbiochemistrymedicine
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.
plural of receptor
Any specialized cell or structure that responds to sensory stimuli.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: (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.
Used this way, receptors is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a clinical use: it belongs to medical description, where it is factual rather than emotive.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Medicine/healthcare
- Science
- Technical/specialist writing
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.