Definition of 'mail'

Word Frequency

mail

(meɪl )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense mails , present participle mailing , past tense, past participle mailed

1. singular noun [oft by NOUN]

The mail is the public service or system by which letters and parcels are collected and delivered.

Your check is in the mail.

People had to renew their motor vehicle registrations through the mail.

The firm has offices in several large cities, but does most of its business by mail.

Synonyms: postal service, post, postal system More Synonyms of mail

2. uncountable noun [oft the NOUN]

You can refer to letters and parcels that are delivered to you as mail.

There was no mail except the usual junk addressed to the occupier.

Nora looked through the mail.

Synonyms: letters, post, packages, parcels More Synonyms of 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]

Last year, he mailed the documents to French journalists. [VERB noun + to]

He mailed me the contract. [VERB noun noun]

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

Synonyms: post, send, forward, dispatch More Synonyms of mail

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.

If you have any problems then send me some mail.

5. See also mailing, chain mail, electronic mail, email, hate mail, junk mail, surface mail

Phrasal verbs:

See mail out

More Synonyms of mail

Video: pronunciation of
mail

mail in British English 1

(meɪl )

noun

1. Also called (esp Brit): post

letters, packages, etc, that are transported and delivered by the post office

the postal system

a single collection or delivery of mail

a train, ship, or aircraft that carries mail

5. short for electronic mail

6. (modifier)

of, involving, or used to convey mail

a mail train

verb (transitive)

7. mainly US and Canadian

to send by mail

Usual Brit word: post

to contact (a person) by electronic mail

to send (a message, document, etc) by electronic mail

Derived forms

mailable (ˈmailable)

adjective

mailability (ˌmailaˈbility)

noun

Word origin

C13: from Old French male bag, probably from Old High German malha wallet

Word Frequency

mail in British English 2

(meɪl )

noun

a type of flexible armour consisting of riveted metal rings or links

the hard protective shell of such animals as the turtle and lobster

verb

3. (transitive)

to clothe or arm with mail

Derived forms

mail-less (ˈmail-less)

adjective

Word origin

C14: from Old French maille mesh, from Latin macula spot

Word Frequency

mail in British English 3

(meɪl )

noun

archaic, mainly Scottish

a monetary payment, esp of rent or taxes

Word origin

Old English māl terms, from Old Norse māl agreement

Word Frequency

mail in British English 4

(meɪl )

noun

Australian informal

a rumour or report, esp a racing tip

Word Frequency

mail in American English 1

(meɪl )

noun

a. Scottish

a bag or piece of baggage

b. Archaic

a bag or packet of letters, etc. to be transported by post

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.

the system of collection, transportation, and delivery of letters, packages, etc.; postal system

: also called the mails

the collection or delivery of letters, packages, etc. at a certain time

late for the morning mail

5. Chiefly British

a vehicle for mail

e-mail

adjective

of mail

; esp.,

carrying, or used in the handling of, mail

designating a person, or boat, train, etc. that transports letters, packages, etc.

verb transitive

8. US

to send by mail, as by putting into a mailbox; post

Derived forms

mailability (ˌmailaˈbility)

noun

mailable (ˈmailable)

adjective

Word origin

ME male < OFr < MHG malhe, a traveling bag < OHG malaha, wallet

Word Frequency

mail in American English 2

(meɪl )

noun

flexible body armor made of small, overlapping metal rings, loops of chain, or scales

the hard protective covering of some animals, as turtles

verb transitive

to cover or protect with or as with mail

Derived forms

mailed

adjective

Word origin

ME maile < OFr maille, a link, mesh < L macula, a spot, mesh of a net

Word Frequency

mail in American English 3

(meɪl )

noun

Chiefly Scottish

rent or payment of any kind

Word origin

ME male, rent, tribute: see blackmail

Word Frequency

mail in American English 1

(meil)

noun

letters, packages, etc., that are sent or delivered by means of the postal system

Storms delayed delivery of the mail

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

a train, boat, etc., as a carrier of postal matter

electronic mail; e-mail

6. See copy the mail

adjective

of or pertaining to mail

transitive verb

to send by mail; place in a post office or mailbox for transmission

to transmit by electronic mail

Word origin

[1175–1225; ME male (n.) ‹ OF malle ‹ Gmc; cf. OHG mal(a)ha satchel, bag]

Word Frequency

mail in American English 2

(meil)

noun

flexible armor of interlinked rings

any flexible armor or covering, as one having a protective exterior of scales or small plates

3. Textiles

an oval piece of metal pierced with a hole through which the warp ends are threaded, serving as an eyelet on a heddle or esp. on the harness cords of a Jacquard loom

transitive verb

to clothe or arm with mail

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]

Word Frequency

mail in American English 3

(meil)

noun

Scot

monetary payment or tribute, esp. rent or tax

Also: maill

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

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Everyone loves a nice bit of junk mail.We urge the public to secure their mail boxes and employ measures to protect their identities. Sign up to the mailing lists of the rail providers you use for details of deals and sales as they are announced.For many householders, mail too easily vanishes into junk mail.The survey found that just 23 per cent of all businesses see mail as vital.Once they get into the building they can steal the mail, which may contain new debit or credit cards posted to the address.Her mum used to have celebrity magazines around the house, but now there's only junk mail with her name still on it.The local bank shows you a map of mail delivery times.The last in the story is an email purporting to help the recipient deal with junk mail.How is a universal mail service to be guaranteed?