Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Receive \Re*ceive"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Received}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Receiving}.] [OF. receiver, recevoir, F. recevoir,
   fr. L. recipere; pref. re- re- + capere to take, seize. See
   See {Capable}, {Heave}, and cf. {Receipt}, {Reception},
   {Recipe}.]
   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. 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 receives by our touch.
                                                  --Locke.

   3. 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.

   4. 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.

   5. To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have
      capacity fro; 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.

   6. 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.

   7. To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.

   8. (Lawn Tennis) 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.

   Usage: {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.

Receive \Re*ceive"\, v. i.
   1. To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as,
      she receives on Tuesdays.

   2. (Lawn Tennis) To return, or bat back, the ball when
      served; as, it is your turn to receive.

Source : WordNet®

receive
     v 1: get something; come into possession of; "receive payment";
          "receive a gift"; "receive letters from the front" [syn:
           {have}]
     2: receive a specified treatment (abstract); "These aspects of
        civilization do not find expression or receive an
        interpretation"; "His movie received a good review"; "I
        got nothing but trouble for my good intentions" [syn: {get},
         {find}, {obtain}, {incur}]
     3: recieve (perceptual input); "pick up a signal" [syn: {pick
        up}]
     4: of mental or physical states or experiences; "get an idea";
        "experience vertigo"; "get nauseous"; "undergo a strange
        sensation"; "The chemical undergoes a sudden change"; "The
        fluid undergoes shear"; "receive injuries"; "have a
        feeling" [syn: {experience}, {have}, {get}, {undergo}]
     5: express willingness to have in one's home or environs; "The
        community warmly received the refugees" [syn: {take in}, {invite}]
     6: accept as true or valid; "He received Christ"
     7: bid welcome to; greet upon arrival [syn: {welcome}] [ant: {say
        farewell}]
     8: convert into sounds or pictures; "receive the incoming radio
        signals"
     9: experience as a reaction; "My proposal met with much
        opposition" [syn: {meet}, {encounter}]
     10: have or give a reception; "The lady is receiving Sunday
         morning"
     11: receive as a retribution or punishment; "He got 5 years in
         prison" [syn: {get}]
     12: partake of the Holy Eucharist sacrament
     13: regard favorably or with disapproval; "Her new collection of
         poems was not well received"