Definition of 'mail'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present
tense mails
, present participle mailing
, past tense, past participle mailed
1. singular noun [oft by NOUN]
2. uncountable noun [oft the NOUN]
You can refer to letters and parcels that are delivered to you as mail.
3. verb
If you mail a letter or parcel to someone, you send it to them by putting it in a post box or taking it to a post office.
[mainly US]
The Government has already mailed some 18 million households with details of the
public offer. [VERB noun + with]
[Also VERB noun]regional note: in BRIT, usually use post 4. verb
To mail a message to someone means to send it to them by means of email or a computer network.
...if a report must be electronically mailed to an office by 9 am the next day. [be VERB-ed preposition]
[Also VERB noun]Mail is also a noun.
5. See also mailing, chain mail, electronic mail, email, hate mail, junk mail, surface mail
Phrasal verbs:
See mail out
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
mail
mail in British English 1
noun
1. Also called (esp Brit): post
2.
the postal system
3.
a single collection or delivery of mail
4.
a train, ship, or aircraft that carries mail
5. short for electronic mail
verb (transitive)
8.
to contact (a person) by electronic mail
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
mailable (ˈmailable) adjective
mailability (ˌmailaˈbility)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French male bag, probably from Old High German malha wallet
mail in British English 2
noun
2.
verb
3. (transitive)
to clothe or arm with mail
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
mail-less (ˈmail-less) adjective
Word origin
C14: from Old French maille mesh, from Latin macula spot
mail in American English 1
noun
1.
2.
a.
letters, papers, packages, etc. handled, transported, and delivered by the post office
b. US
letters, papers, etc. received or sent by a person, company, etc.
3.
the system of collection, transportation, and delivery of letters, packages, etc.; postal system
: also called the mails4.
the collection or delivery of letters, packages, etc. at a certain time
late for the morning mail
5. Chiefly British
a vehicle for mail
6.
adjective
7.
of mail
; esp.,a.
carrying, or used in the handling of, mail
b.
designating a person, or boat, train, etc. that transports letters, packages, etc.
verb transitive
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
mailability (ˌmailaˈbility)
noun
mailable (ˈmailable)
adjective
Word origin
ME male < OFr < MHG malhe, a traveling bag < OHG malaha, wallet
mail in American English 2
verb transitive
3.
to cover or protect with or as with mail
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
mailed
adjective
Word origin
ME maile < OFr maille, a link, mesh < L macula, a spot, mesh of a net
mail in American English 3
noun
Chiefly Scottish
rent or payment of any kind
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
mail in American English 1
(meil)
noun
1.
letters, packages, etc., that are sent or delivered by means of the postal system
Storms delayed delivery of the mail
2.
a single collection of such letters, packages, etc., as sent or delivered
to open one's mail
to find a bill in the mail
The mail for England was put on the noon plane
3. Also: mails
the system, usually operated or supervised by the national government, for sending or delivering letters, packages, etc.; postal system
to buy clothes by mail
4.
a train, boat, etc., as a carrier of postal matter
5.
electronic mail; e-mail
6. See copy the mail
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1175–1225; ME male (n.) ‹ OF malle ‹ Gmc; cf. OHG mal(a)ha satchel, bag]mail in American English 2
(meil)
noun
1.
flexible armor of interlinked rings
transitive verb
4.
to clothe or arm with mail
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
mailless adjective
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME maille one of the rings of which armor was composed ‹ OF ‹ L macula spot, one of the interstices in a net; cf. macula]mail in American English 3
(meil)
noun
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 1150; ME (north) mal(e), late OE māl agreement ‹ ON māl agreement, speech, c. OE mǣl speech]Examples of 'mail' in a sentence
mail
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Word lists with
mail
armourQuick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
Which armour am I?
a large projecting central boss on a shield, esp on a Saxon shield
Which armour am I?
a belt with a sling or strap for a sword
Your score:
Trends of
mail
View usage for:
In other languages
mail
British English: mail
/meɪl/ NOUN
Mail is the letters and parcels that are delivered to you.
She looked through the mail.
- American English: mail /ˈmeɪl/
- Arabic: بَرِيْدٌ
- Brazilian Portuguese: correspondência
- Chinese: 邮件
- Croatian: pošta
- Czech: pošta dopisy
- Danish: post
- Dutch: post brievenpost
- European Spanish: correo
- Finnish: posti
- French: courrier
- German: Post
- Greek: ταχυδρομείο
- Italian: posta
- Japanese: 郵便
- Korean: 우편물
- Norwegian: post
- Polish: poczta korespondencja
- European Portuguese: correspondência
- Romanian: poștă
- Russian: почта
- Latin American Spanish: correo
- Swedish: post brevgång
- Thai: ไปรษณียภัณฑ์
- Turkish: posta
- Ukrainian: пошта
- Vietnamese: thư từ
British English: mail
/meɪl/ VERB
If you mail something, you post it.
I mailed a letter to you yesterday.
- American English: mail /ˈmeɪl/
- Arabic: يُرْسِلُ بِالْبَرِيْدِ
- Brazilian Portuguese: enviar pelo correio
- Chinese: 邮寄
- Croatian: poslati poštom
- Czech: poslat poštou
- Danish: sende
- Dutch: posten
- European Spanish: echar al correo
- Finnish: postittaa
- French: poster envoyer
- German: senden
- Greek: ταχυδρομώ
- Italian: spedire
- Japanese: 郵送する
- Korean: 우송하다
- Norwegian: poste
- Polish: wysłać pocztą
- European Portuguese: enviar pelo correio
- Romanian: a expedia
- Russian: посылать по почте
- Latin American Spanish: echar al correo
- Swedish: posta
- Thai: ส่งจดหมาย, ส่งของทางไปรษณีย์
- Turkish: postalamak
- Ukrainian: відправляти поштою
- Vietnamese: gửi qua bưu điện
Browse alphabetically
mail
Source
Definition of mail from the Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
waive or wave?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
wave
waive
The crowd started to flags and applaud loudly.
read or reed?
Which version is correct?
cellar or seller?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
seller
cellar
Our biggest is a long tailored dress.
stair or stare?
Which version is correct?
stalk or stork?
Which version is correct?
Your score:
Word of the day
god game
a computer roleplaying game in which the player controls the destiny of one or more avatars within a large virtual environment
9 new words in Collins Dictionary
There is a scientific bent to 9 new words added to the Collins Online Dictionary, including three types of 'blot' tests, and words relating to electric vehicles.
Read more
Brush up on your Latin this Back to School
With the UK running a pilot study into teaching Latin in state schools, we look at common Latin phrases still in use today.
Read more
A little bird told me… 7 animal idioms
It’s new words time at Collins Dictionary and this month we see the addition of words like fingerling, net zero and emotional support animal. This month, there were a few animal-related additions.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
miner or minor?
Which version is correct?
cellar or seller?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
cellar
seller
The box had been stored in the at the family home.
stake or steak?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
steak
stake
The only thing on the menu was and kidney pie.
bridal or bridle?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
bridle
bridal
Take the to pieces to give it a really good clean.
muscles or mussels?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
mussels
muscles
Add the and put the lid on.
Your score: