register

re·gis·ter
R1E1G2I1S1T1E1R1
UK/ˈɹɛd͡ʒ.ɪ.stə/Canada, US/ˈɹɛd͡ʒ.ɪ.stɚ/Canada, US/ˈɹɛd͡ʒ.ə.stɚ/Australia/ˈɹed͡ʒ.ɪ.stə/

noun

A formal recording of names, events, transactions, etc.

“The teacher took the register by calling out each child's name.”

Very commonScrabble 9

Meanings

register1

nounregister (plural registers)

plural registers · alternative obsolete registre

  1. A formal recording of names, events, transactions, etc.

    The teacher took the register by calling out each child's name.

  2. A book of such entries.

    As you have one eye upon my follies, […] turn another into the register of your own.

    c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]
  3. An entry in such a book.
  4. The act of registering.
  5. A certificate issued by the collector of customs of a port or district to the owner of a vessel, containing the description of a vessel, its name, ownership, and other material facts. It is kept on board the vessel, to be used as evidence of nationality or as a muniment of title.
  6. One who registers or records; a registrar; especially, a public officer charged with the duty of recording certain transactions or events.

    a register of deeds

  7. A distinct horizontal (or, more rarely, vertical) section of a work of art or inscription that is divided into several such sections.

    The east wall is decorated in raised relief with two registers of scenes above a dado showing a northward fecundity figure procession.

    1989, Eleni Vassilika, Ptolemaic Philae, page 76
    2 more examples

    The division of the field into an upper and lower register, with decorative motifs in the upper register and a scene with figures in the lower register, as here, is, as has been mentioned, characteristic of Syrian seals from the early second millennium.

    1984, Beatrice Teissier, Ancient Near Eastern Cylinder Seals from the Marcopoli Collection, page 70

    The reverse side is divided into three registers. In the first register is the name of Narmer represented as a fish and a chisel inscribed in the serekh.

    2005, Abeer El-Shahawy, The Egyptian Museum in Cairo: A Walk Through the Alleys of Ancient Egypt, page 23
  8. A device that automatically records a quantity.
  9. communicationsThe part of a telegraphic apparatus that automatically records the message received.
  10. communicationsA list of received calls in a phone set.
  11. computingA small unit of very fast memory that is directly accessible to the central processing unit, and is mostly used to store inputs, outputs, or intermediate results of computations.

    When the microprocessor decodes the JSR opcode, it stores the operand into the TEMP register and pushes the current contents of the PC ($00 0128) onto the stack.

    1992, Michael A. Miller, The 68000 Microprocessor Family: Architecture, Programming, and Applications, page 47
    1 more example

    If you can trace back through the disassembly to where the variable is first loaded into a register, you can often discover its value or its address by inspecting that register.

    2014, Jason Gregory, Game Engine Architecture, Second Edition, page 90
  12. mediaThe exact alignment of lines, margins, and colors.
  13. mediaThe inner part of the mould in which types are cast.
  14. entertainmentThe range of a voice or instrument.
  15. entertainmentAn organ stop.
  16. human sciencesA style of a language used in a particular context.

    We rewrote certain communications templates to use a more formal register.

    2 more examples

    It seems equally clear that the ‘Complement + Prepositionʼ order illustrated in (172) (a) is likewise highly marked, and hence subject to heavy restrictions on its use. And sure enough, this does indeed seem to be the case: for one thing, forms such as thereafter, herein, whereby are stylistically highly marked (e.g. they are only used in particular registers such as legal language).

    1988, Andrew Radford, chapter 5, in Transformational grammar: a first course, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, page 275

    While e-memos are less formal than the memos discussed [above], they still need to be professional in appearance and in register, that is, in the level of formality.

    2021, Laurel Currie Oates, Anne Enquist, Jeremy Francis, chapter 19, in The Legal Writing Handbook: Analysis, Research, and Writing (8th Edition), Wolters Kluwer, page 278
  17. A grille at the outflow of a ventilation duct, capable of being opened and closed to direct the air flow.

    No. 1 chamber, 1 8x12 side wall register for warm air. No. 2 chamber, 1 8x12 side wall register for warm air.

    1891, Anson Oliver Kittredge, The Metal Worker Essays on House Heating by Steam, Hot Water and Hot Air: With Introduction and Tabular Comparisons, page 22
    3 more examples

    The remaining ceiling register is connected with the main vent shaft containing the smokepipe. Each of the ceiling registers in the lecture hall is controlled by a damper operated by a drain in the boilerroom.

    1897, Edward J. Mehren, Henry Coddington Meyer, John M. Goodell, Engineering Record, Building Record and Sanitary Engineer, page 102

    The Ideal Wall Register is not a receptacle for the accumulation of dirt. It avoids the necessity of cutting carpets. It is absolutely fireproof.

    1906, Architectural File, page 543

    He went up to the room he shared with Buddy and opened the hot-air register so he could hear what his mother did next.

    1984, Stephen King, Gramma
  18. USabbreviationellipsisEllipsis of cash register.
verbregister (third-person singular simple present registers, present participle registering, simple past and past participle registered)

present singular third person registers · participle present registering · participle past registered · past registered · alternative obsolete registre

  1. transitiveTo sign-up, especially to vote.

    I am running for President to take this country in a new direction. But I can’t do it alone. I need you. Whether it’s the first time, or the first time in a long time, I need you to register and vote on November 4th.

    2008, Barack Obama, “Letter to Vibe Magazine”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)
  2. transitiveTo record, especially in writing.

    Tottenham, who lost William Gallas to injury before the end, struggled to find any sort of response and did not register a single shot on target.

    2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, “Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport
    1 more example

    In every way dinner proved up beyond my expectations, and I registered a note that the cook, whoever or whatever he might be, was a capable man at his trade.

    1914, Jack London, chapter VII, in The Mutiny of the Elsinore
  3. ambitransitiveTo buy the full version of trial software by providing one's details and payment.

    This is a trial version, and will expire in 30 days. Please register!

  4. transitiveTo express outward signs.

    Members of Boston's lesbian and gay community participated in the protest to register anger at the hotel's exploitative treatment of women workers.

    1987 December 13, Elizabeth Pincus, “Copping To The Mop Scandal”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 22, page 2
  5. transitivepostalTo record officially and handle specially.
  6. especiallytransitivemediaTo make or adjust so as to be properly or precisely aligned.
  7. intransitiveTo place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register.

    They registered for school.

  8. intransitiveTo make an impression.

    You’re not listening. You’ve gone off inside your head on one of your riffs and the plain fact that your son is ill hasn’t even registered. The plain fact that I have to wake up every morning and listen to him asking—unbearably asking—why his father isn’t home hasn’t registered.

    2001, Salman Rushdie, Fury: A Novel, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 9
  9. intransitiveTo be in proper alignment; to align or correspond exactly.

    The slightly smaller hind print may overlap but seldom registers precisely in the front track.

    1974, Robert Elman, The Hunter's Field Guide to the Game Birds and Animals of North America, →ISBN
    1 more example

    […] but cat tracks are slightly more staggered, and on each side the back foot registers directly on the track of the front foot.

    1992, Dwight R. Schuh, Bowhunter's Encyclopedia: Practical, Easy-to-Find Answers to Your Bowhunting Questions, Stackpole Books, →ISBN, page 279
  10. lawTo voluntarily sign over for safe keeping, abandoning complete ownership for partial.
  11. transitiveTo perceive or comprehend; pick up on.

    I did not register that look to mean anything more than an innocent, friendly smile.

  12. intransitiveTo occur; become realised or noticed; dawn on.

    It did not register with me at the time that he'd end up betraying me, making off with all my savings.

Register2

proper noun

alternative Regester

Synonyms & antonyms

More synonyms by meaning

nounan official written record of names or events or transactions

Similar
Broader
written recordwritten account

nouna cashbox with an adding machine to register transactions; used in shops to add up the bill

verbrecord in a public office or in a court of law

Similar
Broader

verbbe aware of

Similar

verbindicate a certain reading; of gauges and instruments

Broader

verbhave one's name listed as a candidate for several parties

Similar
cross-file

verbshow in one's face

Similar

verbenter into someone's consciousness

Similar
Broader

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinregerō“to record, to carry back”
  2. Late Latinregesta“list, items recorded”
  3. Medieval Latinregistrum
  4. Englishregister

From Medieval Latin registrum, from Late Latin regesta (“list, items recorded”), from Latin regerō (“to record, to carry back”), from re- + gerō (“to carry, bear”). Compare Latin registoria (“a treasurer”). Some senses influenced by association with unrelated Latin regō (“to rule”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek γραμματεῖον, πίναξ
  • γραμματεῖον (grammateîon)book of such entries
  • πίναξ (pínax)book of such entries
  • ἀναγράφω (anagráphō)transitive: to enter in a register
Arabic سِجِلّ, سِجِلّ
  • سِجِلّ (sijill)formal recording
  • سِجِلّ (sijill)computing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • مُسَجِّل (musajjil)computing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • سَجَّلَ (sajjala)transitive: to enter in a register
Bulgarian о́пис, запис
  • о́пис (ópis)formal recording
  • запис (zapis)formal recording
  • регистър (registăr)book of such entries
  • нанасяне (nanasjane)act of registering
  • регистриране (registrirane)act of registering
  • записвач (zapisvač)device that automatically records a quantity
  • регистър (registăr)computing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • регистър (registăr)music: range of a voice or instrument
  • регистри́рам (registríram)transitive: to enter in a register
  • впи́свам (vpísvam)transitive: to enter in a register
  • впи́ша (vpíša)transitive: to enter in a register
  • запи́свам (zapísvam)transitive: to enter in a register
  • запи́ша (zapíša)transitive: to enter in a register
  • впи́свам (vpísvam)to enroll, especially to vote
  • впи́ша (vpíša)to enroll, especially to vote
  • запи́свам се (zapísvam se)transitive: to enroll as a student
  • запи́ша се (zapíša se)transitive: to enroll as a student
  • препоръ́чвам (preporắčvam)mail: to record officially and handle specially
  • препоръ́чам (preporắčam)mail: to record officially and handle specially
  • регистри́рам се (registríram se)intransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
Catalan registre
  • registreformal recording
Chinese Cantonese 登記 /登记, reg
  • 登記 /登记transitive: to enter in a register
  • regtransitive: to enter in a register
Chinese Mandarin 寄存器, 音區 /音区
  • 寄存器 (jìcúnqì)computing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • 音區 /音区 (yīnqū)music: range of a voice or instrument
  • 語域 /语域 (yǔyù)linguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • 登記 /登记 (dēngjì)transitive: to enter in a register
Czech registrace, rejstřík
  • registraceformal recording
  • rejstříkbook of such entries
  • záznamentry in such a book
  • registraceact of registering
  • zapisovačdevice that automatically records a quantity
  • registrcomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • soutiskprinting: exact alignment of lines, margins and colors
  • pasováníprinting: exact alignment of lines, margins and colors
  • rejstříkmusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • rejstříkmusic: organ stop
  • registrovattransitive: to enter in a register
  • zaregistrovattransitive: to enter in a register
  • pasovatprinting: to adjust so as to be properly aligned
  • napasovatprinting: to adjust so as to be properly aligned
Danish register, registrere
  • registerlinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • registreretransitive: to enter in a register
Dutch stijlniveau, stijlregister
  • stijlniveaulinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • stijlregisterlinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • inschrijventransitive: to enter in a register
  • registrerentransitive: to enter in a register
Esperanto registriĝi
  • registriĝiintransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
Finnish rekisteri, rekisteri
  • rekisteriformal recording
  • rekisteribook of such entries
  • rekisteröintientry in such a book
  • rekisteröintiact of registering
  • lokitelecommunications: list of received calls
  • rekistericomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • tasapainoprinting: exact alignment of lines, margins and colors
  • äänialamusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • rekisterimusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • rekisterilinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • ritilägrille at the outflow of a ventilation duct
  • merkitätransitive: to enter in a register
  • rekisteröidätransitive: to enter in a register
  • rekisteröidäto enroll, especially to vote
  • ilmoittautuatransitive: to enroll as a student
  • rekisteröidäto record, especially in writing
  • ilmaistato express outward signs
  • kirjatamail: to record officially and handle specially
  • rekisteröityäintransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
  • olla ojennuksessato be in proper alignment
French registre, inscription
  • registrebook of such entries
  • inscriptionact of registering
  • registrecomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • registreprinting: exact alignment of lines, margins and colors
  • registremusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • registremusic: organ stop
  • niveau de languelinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • registrelinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • registregrille at the outflow of a ventilation duct
  • enregistrertransitive: to enter in a register
  • inscriretransitive: to enter in a register
  • inscrireto enroll, especially to vote
  • enregistrerto record, especially in writing
  • imprimerto record, especially in writing
  • recalerprinting: to adjust so as to be properly aligned
  • inscrireintransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
  • imprimerto make an impression
German Register, Register
  • Registerformal recording
  • Registercomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • Registerprinting: exact alignment of lines, margins and colors
  • Stilschichtlinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • Stilebenelinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • Stilfärbunglinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • registrierentransitive: to enter in a register
  • einschreibentransitive: to enter in a register
Greek μητρώο, μητρώο
  • μητρώο (mitróo)formal recording
  • μητρώο (mitróo)book of such entries
  • καταχώριση (katachórisi)entry in such a book
  • εγγραφή (engrafí)entry in such a book
  • καταχώριση (katachórisi)act of registering
  • εγγραφή (engrafí)act of registering
  • καταχωρητής (katachoritís)device that automatically records a quantity
  • καταχωρητής (katachoritís)computing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • έκταση (éktasi)music: range of a voice or instrument
  • καταχωρώ (katachoró)transitive: to enter in a register
  • εγγράφω (engráfo)transitive: to enter in a register
  • εγγράφομαι (engráfomai)to enroll, especially to vote
  • εγγράφομαι (engráfomai)transitive: to enroll as a student
  • καταγράφω (katagráfo)to record, especially in writing
  • εξωτερικεύω (exoterikévo)to express outward signs
  • μαρτυρώ (martyró)to express outward signs
  • δείχνω (deíchno)to express outward signs
  • αναγράφω (anagráfo)mail: to record officially and handle specially
  • καταγράφω (katagráfo)intransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
  • εγγράφω (engráfo)intransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
Hebrew משלב
  • משלב (mishláv)linguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
Hindi अनुसूची, अनुसूची
  • अनुसूची (anusūcī)formal recording
  • अनुसूची (anusūcī)book of such entries
Hungarian jegyzék, nyilvántartás
  • jegyzékformal recording
  • nyilvántartásformal recording
  • névjegyzékformal recording
  • regiszterformal recording
  • anyakönyvbook of such entries
  • naplóbook of such entries
  • hangterjedelemmusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • regisztermusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • regisztermusic: organ stop
  • regiszterlinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • nyelvi réteglinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • bejegyeztransitive: to enter in a register
  • regisztráltransitive: to enter in a register
  • névjegyzékbeveteti magát (fel)to enroll, especially to vote
  • beiratkoziktransitive: to enroll as a student
  • regisztrálto record, especially in writing
  • feljegyezto record, especially in writing
  • jelezto record, especially in writing
  • kijelezto record, especially in writing
  • mutatto record, especially in writing
  • kifejezto express outward signs
  • tükrözto express outward signs
  • ajánlva ad felmail: to record officially and handle specially
Icelandic gisti
  • gisticomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
Indonesian warna bahasa, laras bahasa
  • warna bahasalinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • laras bahasalinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • daftartransitive: to enter in a register
  • mendaftartransitive: to enter in a register
Irish sainréim teanga
  • sainréim teangalinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
Italian registrare
  • registraretransitive: to enter in a register
Japanese 音栓, 登録する
  • 音栓 (onsen)music: organ stop
  • 登録する (tōroku suru)transitive: to enter in a register
Korean 등록하다
  • 등록하다 (deungnokhada)transitive: to enter in a register
Latvian reģistrs, reģistrs
  • reģistrsformal recording
  • reģistrsbook of such entries
  • reģistrscomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • reģistrsmusic: range of a voice or instrument
Malay daftar, buku daftar
  • daftarformal recording
  • buku daftarbook of such entries
  • butiran daftarentry in such a book
  • mendaftaract of registering
  • mencatatact of registering
  • alat daftardevice that automatically records a quantity
  • daftar panggilan masuktelecommunications: list of received calls
  • peranti daftarcomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • daftar penyorongprinting: exact alignment of lines, margins and colors
  • tingkat nadamusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • tingkat suaramusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • tingkat registermusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • daftartransitive: to enter in a register
Māori rēhita, pukapuka rēhita
  • rēhitabook of such entries
  • pukapuka rēhitabook of such entries
  • rēhitatangaact of registering
  • rēhitatransitive: to enter in a register
  • rēhitato enroll, especially to vote
Norwegian Bokmål registrere
  • registreretransitive: to enter in a register
Polish dziennik, rejestr
  • dziennikformal recording
  • rejestrbook of such entries
  • rejestrcomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • rejestrowaćtransitive: to enter in a register
  • zarejestrowaćtransitive: to enter in a register
Portuguese registro, registro
  • registroformal recording
  • registrobook of such entries
  • registroentry in such a book
  • registroact of registering
  • registrodevice that automatically records a quantity
  • registradorcomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • registrartransitive: to enter in a register
  • inscrevertransitive: to enroll as a student
  • registrarto record, especially in writing
  • inscreverintransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
Romanian registru, registru
  • registruformal recording
  • registrubook of such entries
  • înregistrareact of registering
  • înregistratransitive: to enter in a register
Russian за́пись, реги́стр
  • за́пись (zápisʹ)formal recording
  • реги́стр (regístr)formal recording
  • о́пись (ópisʹ)formal recording
  • рее́стр (rejéstr)book of such entries
  • реги́стр (regístr)book of such entries
  • за́пись (zápisʹ)entry in such a book
  • регистри́ровать (registrírovatʹ)transitive: to enter in a register
  • зарегистри́ровать (zaregistrírovatʹ)transitive: to enter in a register
  • запи́сывать (zapísyvatʹ)transitive: to enter in a register
  • записа́ть (zapisátʹ)transitive: to enter in a register
  • запи́сываться (zapísyvatʹsja)transitive: to enroll as a student
  • записа́ться (zapisátʹsja)transitive: to enroll as a student
  • регистри́роваться (registrírovatʹsja)intransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
  • зарегистри́роваться (zaregistrírovatʹsja)intransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
Slovak registrovať, zaregistrovať
  • registrovaťtransitive: to enter in a register
  • zaregistrovaťtransitive: to enter in a register
Spanish registro, registro
  • registroformal recording
  • registrobook of such entries
  • registroentry in such a book
  • registrocomputing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • registromusic: range of a voice or instrument
  • registrolinguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
  • cajacash register
  • registrartransitive: to enter in a register
  • empadronartransitive: to enter in a register
  • registrartransitive: to enroll as a student
  • registrarseintransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
  • ser registrado / comprendido porto make an impression
Swedish registrera, regga
  • registreratransitive: to enter in a register
  • reggatransitive: to enter in a register
  • rekommenderamail: to record officially and handle specially
Tamil பதிவகம், வழக்கு
  • பதிவகம் (pativakam)computing: part of the central processing unit used to store and manipulate numbers
  • வழக்கு (vaḻakku)linguistics: style of a language used in a particular context
Thai จดทะเบียน, ลงทะเบียน
  • จดทะเบียน (jòt-tá-biian)transitive: to enter in a register
  • ลงทะเบียน (long-tá-biian)transitive: to enter in a register
Turkish yazılmak, kaydolmak
  • yazılmaktransitive: to enter in a register
  • kaydolmaktransitive: to enter in a register
  • yazılmaktransitive: to enroll as a student
  • kaydolmaktransitive: to enroll as a student
Ukrainian за́пис, реє́стр
  • за́пис (zápys)formal recording
  • реє́стр (rejéstr)book of such entries
  • реєструва́ти (rejestruváty)transitive: to enter in a register
  • зареєструва́ти (zarejestruváty)transitive: to enter in a register
  • реєструва́тися (rejestruvátysja)intransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
  • зареєструва́тися (zarejestruvátysja)intransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
Vietnamese sổ bộ, đăng ký
  • sổ bộbook of such entries
  • đăng kýtransitive: to enter in a register
  • đăng kítransitive: to enter in a register
  • ghi têntransitive: to enter in a register
  • ghi danhtransitive: to enter in a register
  • ghi danhto enroll, especially to vote
  • đăng kýto enroll, especially to vote
  • đăng kíto enroll, especially to vote
  • đăng kýintransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
  • đăng kíintransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
  • ghi danhintransitive: to place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register
  • gây ấn tượngto make an impression
Cite this entry
APA

register. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/register

MLA

“register.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/register. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “register,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/register.

Source: register on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.