receptive
rih-SEP-tiv
/rɪˈseptɪv/
Willing to consider or accept new suggestions and ideas; responsive to sensory stimuli or nervous signals.
In sensory psychology, it describes cells or biological fields (receptive fields) designed to collect and respond to sensory input.
The story behind the word. From French 'réceptif' and Latin 'receptus', past participle of 'recipere' (to receive, take back), formed from 're-' (back) + 'capere' (to take). To be receptive is to be ready to take back in what comes toward you.
Word relationships
- responsive: 'Responsive' implies reacting back, whereas 'receptive' focuses on the capacity to take in or accept input.
- open-minded: 'Open-minded' applies strictly to ideas, while 'receptive' applies both to ideas and biological sensory fields.
- unreceptive: 'Unreceptive' means closed to incoming signals or ideas.
- resistant: 'Resistant' implies active opposition to incoming input.
Commonly confused with
- perceptive: 'Perceptive' means insightful at understanding subtle details, while 'receptive' means open to receiving input.
Word family
- receptivity (noun): Willingness or capacity to receive something.
- receptor (noun): An organ or cell able to respond to light, heat, or other external stimulus.
Collocations
- receptive field
- receptive mind
- highly receptive
- receptive language
Example sentences
- "Each ganglion cell in the retina monitors a specific receptive field of the visual space." Neurophysiology
- "A calm mind is significantly more receptive to learning complex concepts than a stressed one." Psychology
Memory hook
RECEPTIVE cells are RECEPTACLES—they are ready to RECEIVE input. Ready to RECEIVE incoming signals.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'receptive' as mere passivity; it implies readiness or functional ability to take in incoming energy.
Fun facts
- In linguistics, 'receptive language' refers to the ability to understand spoken or written words, as opposed to 'expressive language', which is producing them.
Explore more words
audience, attentiveness, perceptive, observant, broad-minded, acceptance
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