Medical Dictionary

receptor

noun re·cep·tor \ri-ˈsep-tər\

Medical Definition of RECEPTOR

1
:  a cell or group of cells that receives stimuli :  sense organ
2
:  a chemical group or molecule (as a protein) on the cell surface or in the cell interior that has an affinity for a specific chemical group, molecule, or virus
3
:  a cellular entity (as a beta-receptor or alpha-receptor) that is a postulated intermediary between a chemical agent (as a neurohormone) acting on nervous tissue and the physiological or pharmacological response
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