receptor

/ɹɪˈsɛp.tə/

//ɹɪˈsɛp.tə// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"receptor" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“receptor” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #9,806 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#9,806
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - 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.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

receptor vs rector
75% similar
receptor vs reception
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for receptor
PropertyValue
Headwordreceptor
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ɹɪˈsɛp.tə/
Letters8
Frequency rank#9,806
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “receptor” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). receptor lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for receptor is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈsɛp.tə/. Corpus data places it at rank #9,806 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for receptor, with forms such as "erceptor", "rceeptor", and "recceptor". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "rector", "reception", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English receptour, from Old French receptour or Latin receptōrius, from recipiō (“receive”), from re- (“back”) + capiō (“I hold”). The correct English form is receptor, spelled R-E-C-E-P-T-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    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.
  2. 2
    Any specialized cell or structure that responds to sensory stimuli.
  3. 3
    One who receives something or someone; in particular, one who harbors a fugitive.

Etymology

From Middle English receptour, from Old French receptour or Latin receptōrius, from recipiō (“receive”), from re- (“back”) + capiō (“I hold”).

This word in other languages

receptor(Español)récepteur(Français)Rezeptor(Deutsch)receptor(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: erceptor,rceeptor,recceptor,recepotr,recepptor,receptorr,receptro,recepttor,recetpor,recpetor,reecptor,rreceptor

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of receptor - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

erceptor2rceeptor2recceptor1recepotr2recepptor1receptorr1receptro2recepttor1
Edit distance from "receptor"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "receptor"?
"receptor" is spelled R-E-C-E-P-T-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈsɛp.tə/.
What does "receptor" mean?
As a noun, "receptor" means: 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.
What words are commonly confused with "receptor"?
"receptor" is commonly confused with "rector", "reception". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "receptor"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "receptor" is /ɹɪˈsɛp.tə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "receptor"?
From Middle English receptour, from Old French receptour or Latin receptōrius, from recipiō (“receive”), from re- (“back”) + capiō (“I hold”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “receptor”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-C-E-P-T-O-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɪˈsɛp.tə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “rector” - see the side-by-side comparison. receptor vs rector
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list