- 1the part of a telephone that you hold close to your mouth and ear to pick up/lift/put down/replace the receiver CollocationsPhonesMaking and receiving phone calls the phone/telephone rings answer/pick up/hang up the phone/telephone lift/pick up/hold/replace the receiver dial a (phone/extension/wrong) number/an area code call somebody/talk (to somebody)/speak (to somebody) on the phone/telephone; from home/work/the office make/get/receive a phone call take the phone off the hook (= remove the receiver so that the phone does not ring) the line is (British English) engaged/ (especially North American English) busy the phones have been (North American English) ringing off the hook (= ringing frequently) put somebody through/get through to the person you want to speak to put somebody on hold (= so that they must wait for the person they want to speak to) call from/use a landlineMobile/cell phones be/talk on a (both British English) mobile phone/mobile/(especially North American English) cell phone/(informal, especially North American English) cell use/answer/call (somebody on)/get a message on your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell switch/turn on/off your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell charge/recharge your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell a mobile/cell phone is on/is off/rings/goes off (British English) top up your mobile (phone) send/receive a text (message)/an SMS (message)/a fax insert/remove/change a SIM card compare handset Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivephone, telephone verb + receiverlift, pick up, grab, … receiver + verbdangle prepositionover the receiver phraseshold the receiver to your ear, put the receiver to your ear See full entry See related entries: Communication devices
- 2a piece of radio or television equipment that changes broadcast signals into sound or pictures a satellite receiver compare transmitter Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivehand-held, portable, GPS, … receiver + nounmodule, unit, antenna, … See full entry See related entries: Radio technology, Watching TV
- 3(British English also official receiver) (law) a person who is chosen by a court to be in charge of a company that is bankrupt to call in the receivers The company has been put in the hands of the receiver. A receiver was appointed by the court to handle the company’s affairs. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveofficial, court-appointed, administrative, … verb + receiverappoint, appoint somebody (as), call in, … phrasesin the hands of the receiver See full entry
- 4a person who receives something Molly's more of a giver than a receiver.
- 5a person who buys or accepts stolen goods, knowing that they have been stolen
- 6(in American football) a player who plays in a position in which the ball can be caught when it is being passed forward See related entries: American football Extra examples ‘It’s your mother on the phone again!’, said John with his hand over the receiver. He covered the receiver and mouthed, ‘It’s him.’ He slammed the receiver down and burst into tears. She picked up the receiver and put it to her ear. She took a deep breath and lifted the receiver off its hook. The company remained in the hands of the receiver. The receiver was dangling from the payphone. They had to lay off 200 staff and call in the receivers. To change channel, select the desired number on the receiver unit.
receiver
nounBrE BrE//rɪˈsiːvə(r)//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈsiːvər//
Radio technology, Communication devices, Watching TV, American footballCheck pronunciation: receiver
