letter
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a sign or symbol used in writing that represents a sound.
n.a character or symbol representing one or more of the sounds used in speech; any of the symbols of an alphabet.
Simple“The word 'apple' begins with the letter A.”
In context“The child carefully traced each letter of the alphabet, focusing on the distinction between uppercase and lowercase forms.”
- 02 A1 Beginner
n.a written or printed message that you send to someone in an envelope.
n.a written, typed, or printed communication, typically sent by post or messenger.
Simple“I wrote a long letter to my grandmother to tell her about my new job.”
In context“She received a formal letter from the university confirming that her application had been successful and outlining the next steps for enrollment.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the exact words of a law or rule, rather than the general idea.
n.the precise wording of a document or law, often contrasted with its 'spirit' or intended purpose.
Simple“The judge followed the letter of the law even though it seemed unfair.”
In context“While the company technically followed the letter of the agreement, their aggressive tactics clearly violated the spirit of the partnership.”
SynonymsliteralnessexactnessAntonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a standard size of paper used in North America.
n.a standard paper size measuring 8.5 by 11 inches, primarily used in the United States and Canada.
Simple“Please print the report on letter size paper, not A4.”
In context“The document was formatted for letter size, causing the margins to appear distorted when printed on the standard European A4 sheets.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to draw or paint letters onto a surface.
v.to inscribe, engrave, or paint alphabetic characters onto a surface.
Simple“The artist spent hours lettering the sign by hand.”
In context“The stonecutter was commissioned to letter the monument, requiring a steady hand and precise knowledge of classical typography.”
Synonymsinscribelabel
Usage letter sent · letter signed · letter of support
From Middle English letter, lettre, from Old French letre, from Latin littera (“letter of the alphabet"; in plural, "epistle”). Displaced Old English bōcstæf (literally “book staff”) in sense 1 and ǣrendġewrit (literally “message writing”) in sense 2.
From Middle English letere, equivalent to let + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.