mail

Q: What does "mail" mean?

1. (letters and packages) the letters and packages that are sent to you or that you send to others. 2. (the postal system) the system or service used for sending letters and packages. 3. (email) messages sent over the internet from one computer or phone to another. 4. (metal armor) armor made of many small metal rings linked together. 5. (to send by post) to send a letter or package using the postal service. 6. (to send an email) to send a message to someone using the internet.

Word

01letters and packages

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun

n. the letters and packages that are sent to you or that you send to others.

n. the physical or electronic correspondence and parcels conveyed by a postal or telecommunications service.

“I need to check the mail to see if my new passport has arrived.”

“The receptionist sorted the morning mail into individual pigeonholes before the staff arrived for the meeting.”

Synonyms

post correspondence

02the postal system

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun

n. the system or service used for sending letters and packages.

n. the public or private organisational system responsible for the collection and delivery of post.

“It is often cheaper to send heavy books through the regular mail.”

“The government subsidises the mail in rural areas to ensure that every citizen has access to essential communication services.”

Synonyms

postal servicepost

03email

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun Computing

n. messages sent over the internet from one computer or phone to another.

n. electronic messages sent via a computer network; often used as a collective noun for one's inbox contents.

“I received a lot of junk mail in my inbox this morning.”

“The server was overwhelmed by the volume of incoming mail after the marketing campaign was launched globally.”

Synonyms

emaile-mail

04metal armor

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun History Formal

n. armor made of many small metal rings linked together.

n. a type of flexible armour consisting of interlinked metal rings or small plates.

“The knights in the museum wore heavy suits of mail.”

“Archaeologists discovered fragments of iron mail, suggesting that the infantry were better equipped than previously recorded.”

Synonyms

chainmail

05to send by post

A2 · Elementary American English

v. to send a letter or package using the postal service.

v. to dispatch a letter or parcel through the postal system; ditransitive when specifying a recipient.

“Did you remember to mail that birthday card to your aunt?”

“The law requires the company to mail a physical copy of the annual report to all registered shareholders.”

Usage

In British English, 'post' is significantly more common as a verb.

Synonyms

post send dispatch

06to send an email

B1 · Intermediate Computing Informal

v. to send a message to someone using the internet.

v. to transmit a message or document via electronic mail.

“I will mail you the details of the party later tonight.”

“Please mail the final draft of the contract to the legal department for a final review before the deadline.”

Synonyms

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mail” in context.

01. electronic mail

From Middle English male, from Anglo-Norman male, Old French male (“bag, wallet”), from Frankish malha (“bag”), from Proto-Germanic malhō (“bag, pouch”), from Proto-Indo-European *molko- (“leather pouch”). Compare Dutch maal.

From Middle English mayle (“mail armor”), borrowed from Old French maille (“loop, stitch”), from Vulgar Latin macla, from Latin macula (“blemish, mesh”), probably from Proto-Indo-European smh₁-tleh₂, from *smeh₁- (“smear, rub”). Compare maillot.

From Middle English mal, male from Old English māl (“speech, contract, agreement”) from Old Norse mál (“agreement, speech, lawsuit”). Akin to Old English mǣl (“speech”). Related to Old English mǣlan (mell), maþelian (“to speak out, declare”). From maþlą (“meeting-place”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European meh₂d- (“to encounter, come”), if so, related to meet, and moot.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VERB

NOUN

mail(A2)