reception
/rɪˈsepʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪˈsepʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ri-ˈsep-shən/ (ame, mw)
reception — noun
- receptionsingular
- receptionsplural
1. a social event held to welcome a particular person or to celebrate a special occ
a social event held to welcome a particular person or to celebrate a special occasion, usually with food and drinks
The wedding reception was held in a large tent in the garden.
collocation: wedding reception
Sirin's family hosted a reception for the visiting professor at the city hall.
host a reception for [person]
Over three hundred guests attended the reception after the award ceremony.
Élise and Hamza held their wedding reception at a small restaurant by the river.
2. how the public or a specific group responds to a new product, idea, performance,
how the public or a specific group responds to a new product, idea, performance, or artistic work, whether positively or negatively
The new operating system received a lukewarm reception from users.
collocation: lukewarm reception / warm reception
Jason's proposal got a cool reception from the board of directors.
The novel enjoyed a very favourable reception in literary circles.
The company's new software got a mixed reception from industry experts.
用法筆記
Often modified by an adjective such as warm, cold, mixed, lukewarm, favourable, or hostile that indicates the quality of the reaction.
常見錯誤
3. the particular way someone is greeted when they arrive somewhere, including the
the particular way someone is greeted when they arrive somewhere, including the level of friendliness or unfriendliness shown
The children gave their grandmother a warm reception at the front door.
collocation: give [someone] a [adjective] reception
Beatrix received a chilly reception from the security guard at the gate.
The visiting team got a hostile reception from the home crowd at the stadium.
Élise received a very friendly reception from her new flatmates when she moved in.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (PUBLIC RESPONSE): sense 2 describes how people judge a thing or idea, while sense 3 describes how someone is greeted when they appear in person. A warm 'reception' (sense 3) means the person was welcomed cheerfully; a warm 'reception' (sense 2) means the work was praised.
4. the desk or area just inside a building's main entrance, found in hotels, office
the desk or area just inside a building's main entrance, found in hotels, offices, and clinics, where visitors check in or ask for help
Please leave your keys at reception when you go out.
collocation: at reception
Nila called reception to ask for a wake-up call at six o'clock.
A visitor was waiting for me in the reception area of the office.
The receptionist at the front desk handed Hamza a package from the courier.
- front desk
more common in American English; identical in function
- lobby
refers to the whole entrance area; the reception desk is one part of the lobby
用法筆記
In British English, 'reception' alone (without 'desk' or 'area') is commonly used to mean the front desk itself, e.g. 'Please report to reception.' In American English, 'front desk' is more frequent, though 'reception' is also understood.
5. the quality and clarity with which a device receives broadcast signals for radio
the quality and clarity with which a device receives broadcast signals for radio, television, or mobile phones
The radio reception is very poor in this underground car park.
collocation: poor reception / good reception
Gabriel climbed to the top of the hill to get better phone reception.
Digital television offers much clearer reception than the old analogue system.
Mobile phone reception inside the mountain tunnel was so bad that calls kept dropping.
- signal strength
more technical; refers to the power of the signal rather than the clarity of what is received
- connection
broader; includes internet links and other data exchanges
用法筆記
Commonly paired with good, poor, bad, excellent, clear, or patchy. 'No reception' means no signal at all.
常見錯誤
6. in the UK education system, the initial class of primary school that children en
in the UK education system, the initial class of primary school that children enter when they are four or five years old
My youngest daughter started reception class at the local village school last September.
UK usage: started reception
Children in reception learn basic letters and numbers through play-based activities.
Teachers in the reception class use songs and stories to help children learn new words.
Obi's son learned to write his own name during his first term in reception last year.
用法筆記
Specific to the British education system. In the UK, compulsory education begins with the 'Reception' year, which follows nursery (ages 3-4) and precedes Year 1. The term is not used in American or most other English-speaking school systems.
7. in American football, a play in which a player catches a ball thrown forward fro
in American football, a play in which a player catches a ball thrown forward from the quarterback
Yuna made a spectacular reception in the end zone to win the game.
The wide receiver leads the team with twenty-seven receptions this season.
collocation: make a reception / lead in receptions
The quarterback threw a long pass and the wide receiver made an impressive reception.
Ayesha recorded her first touchdown reception during the championship game last Saturday.
- catch
the everyday equivalent; 'reception' is the technical term used in game statistics and play-by-play commentary
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in American football commentary and reporting. The player who catches the ball is called a 'receiver.' 'Reception' in this sense is a countable statistic.