A formal recording of names, events, transactions, etc.
A guide to register
• A book of such entries.
• An entry in such a book.
• The act of registering.
• 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.
• One who registers or records; a registrar; especially, a public officer charged with the duty of recording certain transactions or events.
• A distinct horizontal (or, more rarely, vertical) section of a work of art or inscription that is divided into several such sections.
• A device that automatically records a quantity.
• The part of a telegraphic apparatus that automatically records the message received.
• A list of received calls in a phone set.
• A 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.
• The exact alignment of lines, margins, and colors.
• The inner part of the mould in which types are cast.
• The range of a voice or instrument.
• An organ stop.
• A style of a language used in a particular context.
• A grille at the outflow of a ventilation duct, capable of being opened and closed to direct the air flow.
• Ellipsis of cash register.
(Verb) To enter in a register; to enlist.
• To sign-up, especially to vote.
• To record, especially in writing.
• To buy the full version of trial software by providing one's details and payment.
• To express outward signs.
• To record officially and handle specially.
• To make or adjust so as to be properly or precisely aligned.
• To place one's name, or have one's name placed in a register.
• To make an impression.
• To be in proper alignment; to align or correspond exactly.
• To voluntarily sign over for safe keeping, abandoning complete ownership for partial.
• To perceive or comprehend; pick up on.
• To occur; become realised or noticed; dawn on.
Why register is relevant in U.S. law
register appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
When and how register applies
In practice, register is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.