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letter

letter

1.0
A written message sent to a person or organization, often by mail
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛtər/
translation icon : carta
  • And my parents wrote him a letter, which they kept.
  • write letters
  • send letters
  • receive a letter

I think we showed a letter from Eminem.

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Examples

  • I had a letter from him two weeks ago.

  • I received a letter from my friend yesterday, and it made me smile.

  • So I would sit down, write my letter and take it there.

  • Matter of fact, I wish I had a letter from the governor.

  • And that is what that letter felt like to me.

  • Father, will you take this letter for me, please?

  • We have a letter in draft right now.

  • According to your letter, you were due to arrive yesterday.

  • Please write a letter with a stamp on it.

  • The Hormel Company responded to her letter with an invitation to audition for the band.

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

message
vsletter
1.0

A short note or text someone sends to give information

is a written note addressed to a person or organisation
email
vsletter
  • Texting
724 1.0

A message sent over the internet to another person

is a written message that may travel by post or computer networks
memo
vsletter
341 1.8

A short written note used at work to inform or remind people

is a written message with broader uses than internal business notes
love letter
vsletter
56 2.0

A written message that tells someone you have romantic feelings for them

is a written message with many possible purposes beyond romance
memorandum
vsletter
  • Formal
48 5.4

A short written message used at work to give information or reminders

is a written message used in many settings beyond formal business notes
cover letter
vsletter
  • Formal
16 3.5

A short letter you send with a job application to introduce yourself and say why you fit the job

is a written message used generally, not only as document accompaniment
missive
vsletter
  • Formal
14 8.1

A formal letter that gives important information

is a written message that can be informal or formal depending on purpose
anonymous letter
vsletter
11 3.9

A letter someone sends without saying who they are

is a written message that usually includes the sender's identity
personal letter
vsletter
  • Informal
7 1.0

A private written message sent to one person about personal matters

is a written message used for many purposes, not only private matters
e-mail message
vsletter
  • Texting
6 1.0

A message sent by email over the internet

is a written message covering both server delivery and postal mail
email message
vsletter
  • Texting
5 1.0

A message that someone sends by computer to another person over the internet

is a written message that can be sent by post or electronically
electronic mail
vsletter
  • Texting
5 2.8

A way to send messages and documents between computers over the Internet

is the general written message, sent either electronically or by post
form letter
vsletter
5 3.2

A letter sent to many people with the same text

is a written message that can be personal or individually composed
business letter
vsletter
  • Formal
1 2.7

A formal letter from one company or person to another about business matters

is a written message used broadly, not only for formal business matters
epistle
vsletter
  • Literature
1 9.8

A long, formal letter written in a serious, literary style

is a written message that can be short and everyday, not literary
e-mail
vsletter
  • Texting
1.0

A message sent over the internet to another person

is a written message that also includes nononline postal delivery
lettercard
vsletter
  • Archaic
8.0

A folded card that you write inside and seal before mailing

is a written message not tied to a specific folded postcard format
air letter
vsletter
  • Archaic
6.4

A lightweight sheet that folds into its own envelope to send by air mail

is a written message not limited to lightweight or air transport formats
airmail letter
vsletter
2.5

A letter sent by air to another country so it arrives faster

is a written message that can be sent by any delivery speed or method
letter telegram
vsletter
  • Archaic
8.2

A cheaper written message sent abroad and delivered the next day

is a written message that does not imply that specific delivery method

Idioms

to the letter
  • Formal
23 4.4

Act exactly as told, without changing any detail

Compounds

56 2.0

A written message that tells someone you have romantic feelings for them

cover letter
  • Formal
16 3.5

A short letter you send with a job application to introduce yourself and say why you fit the job

open letter
  • Literature
16 4.0

A letter written to one person but published for everyone to read to make people notice a problem

A letter someone sends without saying who they are

11 4.8

A message that asks you to send it to many people, often as a scam

11 2.1

A small tool with a thin blade for cutting envelopes

9 2.7

A message from someone who likes a famous person, showing praise or support

four-letter word
  • Offensive
9 7.7

A rude or offensive word with four letters used to show anger

A person who writes letters to send messages to other people

A written sign that stands for a sound in a language, like A or B

8 5.1

A written note that says a person or company plans to do something before a contract is signed

personal letter
  • Informal
7 1.0

A private written message sent to one person about personal matters

5 3.2

A letter sent to many people with the same text

4 2.3

A person who delivers mail and packages to homes and shops

scarlet letter
  • Literature
4 9.4

A mark that shows in public that someone is guilty and causes shame

A large letter that you use at the start of a sentence or name

3 7.6

An occasion like a wedding or graduation that you remember as very special

3 3.0

A single capital letter written clearly and not joined to other letters

red letter day
  • Informal
2 4.1

A day that is very special and makes people happy

2 4.4

An award made of cloth for students who play well on a school's main sports team

1 2.7

A formal letter from one company or person to another about business matters

1 5.5

A bank document that promises to pay a seller if a buyer meets certain conditions

letter bomb
  • Offensive
1 7.8

A small bomb hidden in an envelope that explodes when opened

Exactly correct in every word, matching the original text

A small letter of the alphabet that is not a capital

An honest written message that shows strong feelings

1 1.9

A letter that is not a capital letter

black letter
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A heavy old-style print with thick sharp letters used in early books

1 7.7

A piece of mail that cannot be delivered or returned to the sender

1 7.7

A law or rule that is no longer enforced

1 2.6

A formal letter that praises someone's success or achievement

1 3.4

A formal letter praising someone for an important success

crank letter
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A letter sent anonymously to threaten or upset someone

1 9.9

A thin cover worn on the penis during sex to prevent pregnancy and infection

1 1.0

A box or slot at a house where mail is delivered

runic letter
  • Literature
1 9.9

A letter from an old Germanic alphabet used long ago in northern Europe

A large letter that begins names and sentences

9.9

A formal way of writing legal rules using very exact words

5.6

A bank's written promise to pay a seller for goods when required papers arrive

A short letter that you send with other documents to explain them

9.9

A letter the pope sends to all Catholic bishops about Church teaching or practice

air letter
  • Archaic
6.4

A lightweight sheet that folds into its own envelope to send by air mail

A letter sent by air to another country so it arrives faster

A short rude English word of four letters that insults someone

A government paper that lets a private ship owner capture enemy ships and goods during war

9.9

Official government permission for a private ship to capture enemy ships and cargo

Letter of Jeremiah
  • Literature
9.9

A short religious letter warning Jews in Babylon not to worship idols

1.0

Paper in a common size used for writing letters

letter bond
  • Specialized
9.9

A loan not registered with the government and sold only to certain buyers

1.8

A numbered box at a post office that people rent to receive mail

1.8

A public box where people put letters for the post to collect

letter security
  • Specialized
9.4

A stock or bond not registered with the government that cannot be sold in public markets

letter stock
  • Specialized
8.9

Shares not registered with the government that cannot be sold to the public

letter telegram
  • Archaic
8.2

A cheaper written message sent abroad and delivered the next day

market letter
  • Jargon
6.2

A short report that gives news and advice about the stock market

7.7

A letter saying the buyer will keep shares and not sell them soon

night letter
  • Archaic
9.3

A telegram sent at night to arrive the next day for less money

A day you remember because it was very happy or important

An unsigned angry letter written to hurt or insult someone

An anonymous letter that says cruel things to hurt someone

polyphonic letter
  • Specialized
9.8

A letter that has two or more sounds in different words

A bank paper that lets a person get money while traveling abroad

6.0

A letter that shows too much love or strong feelings

How Formal

business letter
  • Formal
1 2.7
letter
1.0
note
1.0
postcard
184 1.0

Surface Forms

letter singular
letters plural

Etymology

Letter for a written message also comes from Latin littera, because messages were made of many letters on the page; that's why a 'letter' can mean a note you send by mail or email.