\Re*ceiv"er\, n. (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.

\Re*ceiv"er\, n. [Cf. F. receveur.]
1. One who takes or receives in any manner.
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.
3. One who takes or buys stolen goods from a thief, knowing
   them to be stolen. --Blackstone.
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.
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}.
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.
7. That portion of a telephonic apparatus, or similar system,
   at which the message is received and made audible; --
   opposed to transmitter.
{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   the air pump, from which the air has been withdrawn; a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.