register
REJ-iss-ter
/ˈrɛdʒɪstər/
A machine used in shops, restaurants, etc., for calculating and recording sales and for holding money; or, to record or enroll officially.
As a noun, it typically refers to a cash register. As a verb, it implies official recording or showing something.
The story behind the word. The word 'register' comes from the Medieval Latin 'regesta', meaning 'things recorded'. This, in turn, derived from the Latin 'regerere', meaning 'to carry back' or 'to record'. Originally, it referred to a book for official records, and later evolved to mean the device that records sales and money in a shop.
Word relationships
- till: More common in British English for the cash drawer itself or the whole unit.
- enroll: Specifically for joining a course, school, or organization.
- withdraw (from a list): Opposite of registering for something.
Commonly confused with
- receipt: A 'register' is the machine or the act of recording; a 'receipt' is the paper proof of a transaction.
Word family
- registration (noun): The act of registering or being registered.
- registrant (noun): A person who registers.
Collocations
- cash register
- open register
- till register
- register for (an event)
- register a complaint
Idioms & expressions
- ring up on the register
Example sentences
- "The old cash register made a satisfying 'cha-ching' sound with each sale." At the grocery store, the cashier rang up the items.
- "You need to register your attendance at the front desk before entering the conference." When a new student joins a school.
- "Please take your items to the nearest open register." A common phrase in customer service.
Memory hook
Imagine a REGISTER where a king's REGAL records are kept, or a cash REGISTER where sales are REGISTERED. Record keeper
When not to use
Avoid using 'register' to mean simply 'to write down' if a more precise verb like 'note' or 'jot' is appropriate, unless the context implies official recording.
Fun facts
- Early cash registers were invented in the late 19th century to prevent employee theft by keeping a record of every sale.
Related words
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