I. let ‧ ter 1 S1 W1 /ˈletə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: lettre , from Latin littera ]
1 . a written or printed message that is usually put in an envelope and sent by mail
letter from/to
I got a letter from Melanie today.
Bart’s writing a letter to his parents.
⇨ ↑ chain letter , ↑ letter of credit , ↑ open letter
2 . a sign in writing or printing that represents a speech sound:
There are 26 letters in the English alphabet.
Fill in the form in capital letters (=written in their large form) .
⇨ ↑ block letters
3 . to the letter paying exact attention to the details of something:
I followed the instructions to the letter, but it still wouldn’t work.
4 . the letter of the law the exact words of a law or agreement rather than the intended or general meaning:
employees who stick to the letter of the law in their contracts
⇨ the spirit of the law at ↑ spirit 1 (11)
5 . American English a large cloth letter that you sew onto a jacket, given as a reward for playing in a school or college sports team:
Mark got a letter in soccer.
6 . English/American/German etc letters [plural] formal the study of the literature of a particular country or language:
a major figure in English letters
⇨ ↑ dead letter , ↑ man of letters
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ get a letter ( also receive a letter formal )
I got a letter from my mother.
▪ write a letter
He wrote a letter inviting her to visit.
▪ send a letter
The school sent a letter to all the children’s parents.
▪ post a letter British English , mail a letter American English
Could you post this letter for me?
▪ answer a letter/reply to a letter
I never answered his letter.
▪ open a letter
Bill opened the letter and read it.
▪ read a letter
May I read her letter?
▪ a letter comes/arrives
A letter came for you today.
▪ a letter is addressed to somebody (=has their name and address on the envelope)
The letter was addressed to Mr. John Appleby.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + letter
▪ long/short
She was thrilled to get a long letter from her son.
▪ formal/informal
The letter sounded very formal.
▪ a personal letter
I don’t want him reading my personal letters.
▪ a business letter
In business letters you often use phrases such as ‘I would be grateful if ...’.
▪ an official letter
I received an official letter thanking me for my enquiry.
▪ a love letter
The book had a copy of a love letter from King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn.
▪ a thank-you letter
Mum made me write thank-you letters for all my birthday presents.
▪ a covering letter British English , a cover letter American English (=that you send with your CV to an employer)
Always enclose a cover letter with your resume.
■ phrases
▪ a letter of thanks/introduction/complaint etc
I finally got a letter of apology from the company.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say ' invitation letter ' or ' complaint letter '. Say letter of invitation or letter of complaint .
II. letter 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . [transitive usually passive] to write, draw, paint etc letters or words on something:
The card was neatly lettered P.A. DUFFY.
letter something in something
Several pages are lettered in gold.
2 . [intransitive] American English to earn a ↑ letter 1 (5) in a sport
letter in
He lettered in basketball at Brandeis.