receiver

n. [ Cf. F. receveur. ] 1. One who takes or receives in any manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A person appointed, ordinarily by a court, to receive, and hold in trust, money or other property which is the subject of litigation, pending the suit; a person appointed to take charge of the estate and effects of a corporation, and to do other acts necessary to winding up its affairs, in certain cases. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who takes or buys stolen goods from a thief, knowing them to be stolen. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Chem.) (a) A vessel connected with an alembic, a retort, or the like, for receiving and condensing the product of distillation. (b) A vessel for receiving and containing gases. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Pneumatics) The glass vessel in which the vacuum is produced, and the objects of experiment are put, in experiments with an air pump. Cf. Bell jar, and see Illust. of Air pump. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Steam Engine) (a) A vessel for receiving the exhaust steam from the high-pressure cylinder before it enters the low-pressure cylinder, in a compound engine. (b) A capacious vessel for receiving steam from a distant boiler, and supplying it dry to an engine. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. That portion of a telephonic apparatus, or similar system, at which the message is received and made audible; -- opposed to transmitter. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Firearms) In portable breech-loading firearms, the steel frame screwed to the breech end of the barrel, which receives the bolt or block, gives means of securing for firing, facilitates loading, and holds the ejector, cut-off, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Exhausted receiver (Physics), a receiver, as that used with the air pump, from which the air has been withdrawn; a vessel the interior of which is a more or less complete vacuum. [ 1913 Webster ]