What does "address" mean?

1. (home or building location) the details of where a building is, including the house number and street name. 2. (digital location) a series of letters or numbers used to find a website or send an email. 3. (formal speech) a formal speech given to a large group of people. 4. (to speak to someone) to speak or write to someone directly. 5. (to deal with a problem) to give attention to a problem and try to fix it. 6. (to write a destination) to write a name and location on an envelope or package.

Is it correct to say "I wrote my address on the letter's back."?

No — say "I wrote my address on the back of the envelope.". In English, we usually say 'on the back of' rather than 'on the letter's back' for locations.

address

US //ˈæˌdɹɛs// ad·dress

1 home or building location (n.)
A1 Beginner

the details of where a building is, including the house number and street name.

the conventional description of the location of a building, apartment, or plot of land.

Example

Please write your home address at the top of the form.

Example

The courier was unable to locate the delivery address because the street signs in the new housing development had not yet been installed.
- location
- residence
Pitfall

I wrote my address on the letter's back.

I wrote my address on the back of the envelope.

In English, we usually say 'on the back of' rather than 'on the letter's back' for locations.
2 digital location (n.)
A2 Elementary Computing

a series of letters or numbers used to find a website or send an email.

a unique identifier for a computer, network location, or email account.

Example

I forgot to save the web address for the online store.

Example

The system administrator assigned a static IP address to the printer to ensure that all workstations could maintain a consistent connection.
- URL
- IP address

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3 formal speech (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Politics

a formal speech given to a large group of people.

a formal discourse or declamation delivered to a specific audience.

Example

The president gave a televised address to the nation last night.

Example

The keynote address focused on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in modern healthcare systems.
4 to speak to someone (v.)
B1 Intermediate Formal

to speak or write to someone directly.

to direct a speech or written communication to a specific person or group.

Example

You should address the manager if you have a serious complaint.

Example

The professor requested that students address her by her formal title during the seminar.
- greet
- speak to
- ignore
5 to deal with a problem (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

to give attention to a problem and try to fix it.

to direct one's attention or efforts towards a specific issue or task.

Example

We need to address the safety concerns before the factory reopens.

Example

The new policy fails to address the underlying causes of the budget deficit, focusing instead on short-term cost-cutting measures.
- avoid
- neglect
6 to write a destination (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to write a name and location on an envelope or package.

to mark a letter or parcel with the name and destination of the recipient.

Example

She carefully addressed the wedding invitations by hand.

Example

The clerk refused to accept the package because it was incorrectly addressed and lacked a return label.
- label
- mark

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Old French a- Proto-Italic *dwizrektos Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵeti Proto-Italic *dwizregō Vulgar Latin dīrigō Vulgar Latin dīrēctus Proto-Indo-European *-yetider. Vulgar Latin -iāre Vulgar Latin *dīrēctiāre Old French drecier Old French adrecierbor. Middle English adressen English address From Middle English adressen (“to raise erect, adorn”), from Old French adrecier (“to straighten, address”) (modern French adresser), from Proto-Romance addīrēctiāre, from ad- (“to; towards”) + dīrēctiāre (“to guide; to direct”), from Latin dīrēctus (“straight; right”), from dīrigō (“to lay straight; to direct”), itself from regō (“to govern, to rule”). Cognate with Spanish aderezar (“to garnish; dress (food); to add spices”).