acceptor

[ ak-sep-ter ]
/ ækˈsɛp tər /

noun

Finance. a person who accepts a draft or bill of exchange, especially the drawee who signs the draft or bill, confirming a willingness to pay it when due.
Also called acceptor atom, acceptor impurity. Physics. an atom of impurity in a semiconducting crystal such that the atom can capture an electron, creating a hole in a filled electron shell and thereby changing the electric conductivity of the crystal.
Chemistry. an atom, ion, group of atoms, or compound that combines with, or accepts, another entity, thereby profoundly affecting physical and chemical properties: electron acceptor; water acceptor.

Origin of acceptor

1350–1400; Middle English, in phrase acceptour of persones; accept + -or2, or (< Anglo-French acceptour) < Latin acceptor, equivalent to accep-, variant stem of accipere to receive, get (see accept) + -tor -tor

Example sentences from the Web for acceptor

British Dictionary definitions for acceptor

acceptor
/ (əkˈsɛptə) /

noun

commerce the person or organization on which a draft or bill of exchange is drawn after liability has been accepted, usually by signature
Also called: acceptor impurity electronics an impurity, such as gallium, added to a semiconductor material to increase its p-type conductivity by increasing the number of holes in the semiconductor Compare donor (def. 5)
electronics a circuit tuned to accept a particular frequency
chem the atom or group that accepts electrons in a coordinate bond

Medical definitions for acceptor

acceptor

n.

The reactant in an induced reaction that has an increased rate of reaction in the presence of the inductor.
The atom that contributes no electrons to a covalent bond.

Scientific definitions for acceptor

acceptor
[ ăk-sĕptər ]

The reactant in an induced chemical reaction that has an increased rate of reaction in the presence of the inductor.
An atom or molecule that receives one or more electrons from another atom or molecule, resulting in a chemical bond or flow of electric current. Compare donor. See also electron carrier.