Register facts for kids

The word register can mean a few different things. Most often, it's something written down to keep an official record or proof of something. Think of it like a list of names, for example.

It can also be used as a verb, to register, which means to write something down in an official record book. For instance, when a baby is born, their parents register the birth with the government. People also register marriages and deaths.

Registration is the act of doing this – the process of writing something down or being written down officially.

What is a Register? Keeping Official Records

A register helps keep track of important information. Governments and organizations use registers to make sure everything is recorded properly. This helps them manage things like who owns what, who is allowed to do certain activities, or even who lives in a particular area.

Registers for People and Property

• Aircraft registration: Just like cars, airplanes need to be officially registered with the government. This helps keep track of who owns them and makes sure they are safe to fly.
• Family register: In some countries, this is an official record that tracks information about families, like births, marriages, and deaths. It helps keep a clear history of family members.
• Registered mail: This is a special mail service where your letter or package is tracked every step of the way. You get proof that it was sent and received, which is useful for important documents.
• Registered nurse: This is a nurse who has completed special training and passed exams to become officially licensed. They are registered with a professional board, which means they are qualified to provide medical care.
• Registered trademark symbol: You might see this symbol (®) next to a company's name or logo. It means that the name or logo is officially registered as a trademark, protecting it from being used by others.
• Summit register: When hikers reach the top of a mountain, they sometimes find a small box or canister with a notebook inside. This is a summit register, where people can write their names and the date they reached the top. It's a fun way to leave a record of their achievement!
• Vehicle registration: Every car, truck, and motorcycle needs to be registered with the government. This helps identify the vehicle and its owner.
• Vehicle registration plate: These are the metal or plastic plates on the front and back of a vehicle, showing its unique registration number. They are also called license plates.
• Voter registration: Before you can vote in an election, you usually need to register. This means your name is added to an official list of people who are allowed to vote.

Registers in Technology and Everyday Life

• Cash register: This is the machine in a store where cashiers ring up your purchases and store money. It also keeps a record of all the sales.
• Register (HVAC): In your home, a register is the vent cover on your walls, floors, or ceilings where air comes out (for heating or cooling) or goes back into the system.
• Register (sculpture): In art, especially ancient art like Egyptian carvings, a register is a horizontal band that separates different scenes or parts of a story. It helps organize the artwork.
• Registered user: When you sign up for a website, app, or online game, you become a registered user. This usually means you create an account with a username and password to access special features.

Registers in Language and Music

• Register (sociolinguistics): This is about how we change the way we speak depending on the situation. For example, you might use a formal register when talking to a teacher and an informal register when talking to your friends.
• Register (music): In music, a register refers to the "height" or range of notes. For example, a singer might sing in a high register or a low register. Different musical instruments also have different registers.
• Registration (organ): When someone plays a pipe organ, they use "stops" to combine different sounds (or "registers") to create the right musical tone for the piece they are playing.

Registers in Comics

• Registration acts (comics): In some comic book stories, especially in Marvel Comics, there are fictional laws called "registration acts." These laws often require superheroes to reveal their secret identities to the government, which can lead to big conflicts in the stories.

Places Called Register

• Register, Georgia: There is a small town in the United States named Register, located in the state of Georgia.