1 mail
Pronounced:
/ˈmeɪl/
Function:
nounMeaning:
[noncount] ◊Mail is used in British English but it is much more common in U.S. English. The usual word in British English is post. 1 : the system used for sending letters and packages from one person to another ▪ They do business by mail. ▪ Don't bring the check to the office—send it through the mail. ▪ The check is in the mail. [=the check has been sent and will be delivered by mail] ▪ I hope the check hasn't gotten lost in the mail. ▪ interoffice mail —called also (chiefly Brit) post; —see also airmail, direct mail, registered mail, return mail, surface mail, voice mail
2 : letters or packages sent from one person to another ▪ Was the notice in today's mail? ▪ Did we get any mail today? ▪ Has the mail arrived yet? ▪ sorting through the mail ▪ There's a pile of mail on the table. ▪ collecting and delivering the mail ▪ reading the mail ▪ They got a lot of hate mail [=extremely angry letters, e-mail, etc.] from people who disagree with their policies. ▪ He has a job in the mail room. [=the room in an office where mail is handled] —called also (chiefly Brit) post; —see also fan mail, junk mail, snail mail
3 : 1e-mail ▪ I need to check my computer to see if I've gotten any mail today.
2 : letters or packages sent from one person to another ▪ Was the notice in today's mail? ▪ Did we get any mail today? ▪ Has the mail arrived yet? ▪ sorting through the mail ▪ There's a pile of mail on the table. ▪ collecting and delivering the mail ▪ reading the mail ▪ They got a lot of hate mail [=extremely angry letters, e-mail, etc.] from people who disagree with their policies. ▪ He has a job in the mail room. [=the room in an office where mail is handled] —called also (chiefly Brit) post; —see also fan mail, junk mail, snail mail
3 : 1e-mail ▪ I need to check my computer to see if I've gotten any mail today.
the mails
chiefly US law formal : the system used for sending letters, packages, etc. : a nation's postal system ▪ packages sent through the mails ▪ He was charged with using the mails to commit fraud.
—compare 3mail
