See Also: mail 1, noun(dictionary)
mail(2)(dictionary)
e-mail(encyclopedia)
mail(9)(dictionary)
mail(8)(dictionary)
mail(7)(dictionary)
mail(6)(dictionary)
mail(5)(dictionary)
mail(4)(dictionary)
mail(1)(dictionary)

mail 1, noun (oh)



[Sense: 1-3; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: male 'bag']
[Sense: 4; Date: 1200-1300; Language: French; Origin: maille, from Latin macula 'spot, woven threads']
the letters and packages that are delivered to you
::She's been reading my private mail.
::When he got to the office he found a mountain of mail waiting for him.
::He promised to forward my mail to my new address. (=send it from my old home or office)
::He gets sacks of fan mail . (=letters from people who admire him and are his fans)
hate mail
(=letters from people saying that they hate you)
especially AmE the system of collecting and delivering letters and packages
British Equivalent: post
::The mail here's really slow and unreliable.
::The product will be sold mainly through the mail.
in the mail
::I'll put the check in the mail tomorrow.
by mail
::Did you send the document by mail?
registered/express/first-class etc mail
::I sent my application by registered mail.
::Most reports are sent via internal mail (=a system of sending documents to people inside the same organization) .
messages that are sent and received on a computer
-synonym email email
::You should always check your incoming mail (=messages that you receive) every day.
::Please read the mail message for information on the error.
armour made of small pieces of metal, worn by soldiers in the Middle Ages
-see also voice mail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WORD FOCUS: mail
things that people send: letter, postcard, package also parcel (BrE), junk mail
ways of sending mail: first class/second class (BrE), airmail, surface mail, special delivery
the person who delivers your mail: postman/postwoman (BrE), mailman (AmE), letter carrier (AmE)
the place where you buy stamps, send letters and packages etc: post office
the place where you put letters and packages: postbox (BrE) mailbox (AmE)
the place where you receive letters and packages: letterbox (BrE) mailbox (AmE)