Topic: MAIL
 |
Sense: 1-3
| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | male 'bag' |
| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | maille, from Latin macula 'spot, woven threads' |
mail1 S3 W3
[uncountable]
[uncountable]1 the letters and packages that are delivered to you : She's been reading my private mail. He found a mountain of mail waiting for him.
She's been reading my private mail.He found a mountain of mail waiting for him. hate mail (=letters from people saying that they hate you)
2 especially American English the system of collecting and delivering letters and packages [= post British English] The mail here's really slow and unreliable. The product will be sold mainly through the mail. Most reports are sent via internal mail (=a system of sending documents to people inside the same organization).
The mail here's really slow and unreliable.The product will be sold mainly through the mail.Most reports are sent via internal mail (=a system of sending documents to people inside the same organization).3TD messages that are sent and received on a computer [= email]: You should always check your incoming mail (=messages that you receive) every day.
You should always check your incoming mail (=messages that you receive) every day.4PMD armour made of small pieces of metal, worn by soldiers in the Middle Ages
➔ voice mailWORD FOCUS: mail WORD FOCUS: mail
things that people send: letter, postcard, package also parcel British English, junk mail
ways of sending mail: first class/second class British English, airmail, surface mail, special delivery
the person who delivers your mail: postman/postwoman British English, mailman American English, letter carrier American English
the place where you buy stamps, send letters and packages etc: post office
the place where you put letters and packages: postbox British English/mailbox American English
the place where you receive letters and packages: letterbox British English/mailbox American English
WORD FOCUS: mail things that people send: letter, postcard, package also parcel British English, junk mail
ways of sending mail: first class/second class British English, airmail, surface mail, special delivery
the person who delivers your mail: postman/postwoman British English, mailman American English, letter carrier American English
the place where you buy stamps, send letters and packages etc: post office
the place where you put letters and packages: postbox British English/mailbox American English
the place where you receive letters and packages: letterbox British English/mailbox American English
