letter

letter

I

let‧ter¹ S1 W1 /ˈletə $ -ər/ noun [countable]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 spirit¹(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

letter² 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 letter¹(5) in a sport
    letter in
    He lettered in basketball at Brandeis.