ruh-SEP-turz
/ɹəˈsɛptɚz/
receptors is pronounced ruh-SEP-turz (/ɹəˈsɛptɚz/). Receptors are cellular or protein structures that detect chemical or physical signals and trigger physiological responses. In biology, they sense stimuli such as hormones, light, or odorants, enabling cells to respond appropriately. The term also appears in medical contexts to refer to devices that detect signals, such as sensors in diagnostic equipment.
Receptors are cellular or protein structures that detect chemical or physical signals and trigger physiological responses. In biology, they sense stimuli such as hormones, light, or odorants, enabling cells to respond appropriately. The term also appears in medical contexts to refer to devices that detect signals, such as sensors in diagnostic equipment.
Tip: practice with minimal pairs like re-SEP-tors vs re-SEPT-ors to lock the /t/ clarity and syllable rhythm.
"The receptor proteins on a cell surface bind to hormones to initiate a signaling cascade."
"Olfactory receptors in the nose detect odor molecules and send signals to the brain."
"Photoreceptors in the retina convert light into neural signals."
Say /rɪˈsep.tərz/ (US) or /rɪˈsep.tə(r)z/ (UK). Stress on the second syllable: re-CEP-tors. The final -ers becomes /-ərz/ or a syllabic /-ɜːz/ in some accents; keep the /t/ clear between /sep/ and /tər/. Listen for the light, quick schwa in the second-to-last syllable. Practice with: re-CEP-tors, RE-cep-tors.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying re-CEP-tors with too much emphasis on the first syllable), pronouncing the /t/ too softly or as a d, and slurring the final /z/ into /ɪz/. Correction: keep secondary stress on the second syllable, articulate a clear /t/ between /sep/ and /tər/, and end with a crisp /z/. For UK audiences, the optional silent or weakly pronounced r in non-rhotic accents can affect the ending; ensure you maintain the rhotic or non-rhotic variant consistently.
In US English, you’ll hear r-colored vowels and a clear /r/ at the start and end: /rɪˈsep.tərz/. UK English often has a non-rhotic ending; you might hear /rɪˈsep.təz/ or /rɪˈsep.təz/ with a lighter final /z/. Australian English typically preserves rhotics, with /rɪˈsep.təz/ or /rɪˈsep.təz/, and vowels may be a touch broader. The key differences lie in rhoticity and the quality of the middle vowel and final syllable.
Two main challenges: the alternating consonant cluster between /sep/ and /t/ requires crisp articulation to avoid blending into /səpət/. Also, the final /rz/ in plural form is tricky; many learners reduce to /z/ or voice the /r/ in non-rhotic accents. Achieve a clean /t/ release and a clear final /z/ or /ɪz/ by using precise tongue position behind the teeth for /t/ and slight lateral release for /z/.
The word hinges on a clear syllable boundary after /sep/ and before /tərz/. The second syllable carries the primary stress and contains a light mid vowel; keeping the /t/ audible is essential to avoid a rushed, blurry middle, which is a common pitfall for non-native speakers.
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Receptor comes from the Latin receptor, from re-, meaning back, and capere, to take or seize, with the sense of taking back signals or messages. The English form emerged in the 17th–18th centuries within scientific and pharmacological contexts to denote a site that receives a signal or stimulus. Early usage framed receptors as structures that “receive” chemical binding or neural input. Over time, the term expanded to include electronic and diagnostic devices designed to receive or detect signals. The word is built on the root capere (take) via the participial form -ceptor (one who takes) and the prefix re- (back or again) in some renderings, though the modern sense primarily denotes a receiving site. First known uses appear in anatomical and physiological treatises where cells and tissues were described as having receptors that respond to ligands, hormones, or photons. In pharmacology, receptor terminology crystallized in the 20th century as a fundamental concept describing drug–receptor interactions, leading to widespread use in biology, medicine, and technology.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "receptors" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "receptors" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "receptors"
-ors sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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