letter1 nounletter2 verb
letterlet‧ter1 /ˈletə $ -ər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINletter1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French lettre, from Latin litteraEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- David, who won first prize in the lottery, has received more than 100 letters from charities asking for money.
- Hamlin wrote a letter to the council, complaining about the incident.
- I got a letter from Anna today.
- In a letter dated May 10th, the US government protested about the use of force in the republics.
- Write me a letter and tell me all your news!
- Blackwell said in a letter last week sent to the Union-Tribune.
- By his second year, he said, nearly 30 schools were sending him letters.
- Impassioned letters to Onegin: 1.
- Two other letters of Anselm during Osbern's disciplinary exile at Bec complete the story of their first meeting.
- When Shevardnadze produced the letter and handed it to the President, Reagan placed it unopened on the table beside his chair.
- Which is the one that has been informed of the letter?
Longman Language Activatorletters etc
a written or printed message that is usually put in an envelope and sent by mail: · In a letter dated May 10th, the US government protested about the use of force in the republics.letter from somebody: · I got a letter from Anna today.letter to somebody: · Hamlin wrote a letter to the council, complaining about the incident.write somebody a letter: · Write me a letter and tell me all your news!get/receive a letter: · David, who won first prize in the lottery, has received more than 100 letters from charities asking for money.
British /mail especially American letters, papers, parcels etc that are sent and delivered using the postal system: · I picked up the mail -- no letters, only bills today.· Paul was opening his post when Margot phoned.· There was a pile of mail and a number of telephone messages waiting for Victor.· When the post came, she searched anxiously for his scrawled handwriting.· Was there any post for me this morning?by post: · You will receive the application form by post.by mail: · You can apply for a passport by mail.junk mail (=advertisements and other mail that you do not want): · So much junk mail ends up in my mailbox nowadays; I just throw it all away!
a short informal letter written from one person to another: · Just a quick note to say Helen had a baby boy yesterday -- 8lbs 6oz.leave (somebody) a note: · I forgot to leave them a note to tell them we won't be home by dinnertime.suicide note (=a note written just before someone kills themselves): · Police are puzzled about the man's death. There was no sign of a struggle and no suicide note.
a short letter written from one person to another within a company or organization: · Mr. Fitchel said he made the suggestion in a memo to his superiors.send (out) a memo: · The Managing Director sent out a memo to all employees saying there would be a meeting at 10 o'clock.
letters or e-mails that people write to each other regularly or over a long period of time: · Your fax should include copies of any correspondence you have received from our office.correspondence with: · The biography is based on Marx's correspondence with Engels over 40 years.
an electronic message sent using the Internet: · I came back from vacation to find 130 e-mails waiting for me.send somebody (an) e-mail: · Several people sent us e-mail asking for help with the software.get an e-mail: · I got an e-mail from Emma the other day.by email: · The reports are sent out weekly by email.e-mail address (=the letters or numbers that people use to send you e-mail): · The e-mail address for the dictionaries department is dict.edit@pearsoned-ema.com.
ways of ending a letter British use this at the end of formal letters, which began with 'Dear Sir', 'Dear Madam' etc: · Yours faithfully, Adam Browning
British use this at the end of formal letters which begin with 'Dear Mr ...', 'Dear Ms ...' etc: · Yours sincerely, Mary Whitford
American use this at the end of formal letters: · Yours truly, Donna Deavers
use this at the end of letter to members of your family, close friends etc: · I'll give you a call soon. Love, Brad
use this especially in letters or e-mails to friends and family: · All the best, Dad
use this at the end of letters to friends, to show that you will be thinking about them: · Take care, Martin and Sophie
also xoxo American use this at the end of letters and notes to people you love. The X's represent kisses and the O's represent hugs: · xxx Moira
use this especially in letters or e-mails to people you know or work with, especially people who are not family or close friends: · Regards, Jonathan Pryor
British /P.S. American use this when you want to add something after the end of a letter: · PS I love you.· PS Send my regards to Pauline.
something that you say or do to thank someone what you say or do to thank someone: · He won't get any thanks from them for being so honest.thanks for: · Please accept this bottle of champagne as our thanks for organizing the seminar.letter/message etc of thanks (=expressing thanks): · He wrote me a short letter of thanks.without a word of thanks (=without saying thank you): · She got up and left without a word of thanks.a vote of thanks (=a formal, public expression of thanks, especially at a meeting): · I'd like to propose a vote of thanks to Sandra for organizing the whole evening.
a letter that you send to someone to thank them, for example when they have given you a present or when you have stayed at their house: · We spent three days after the wedding writing thank-you letters for all the presents we'd had.
a note at the end or beginning of a book, article etc, in which the writer thanks all the people who helped him or her to produce it: · In the acknowledgements the authors thanked everyone who'd contributed to the book.· Her book was based on her ex-husband's letters and yet his name did not even appear in the acknowledgements.
WORD SETSabsenteeism, nounacademic, adjectiveacademy, nounadult education, nounalma mater, nounassessment, nounassessor, nounassignment, nounaudiovisual, adjectiveAV, binder, nounbiology, nounblackboard, nounbursary, nounbusiness studies, nounCAL, nounCALL, nouncareer counselor, nouncareers officer, nouncase study, nounCDT, nouncert., certificate, nouncertificated, adjectivechalkboard, nouncharm school, nounchemistry set, nouncivics, nounclass, nounclassicist, nounclassmate, nouncloze test, nouncoach, nouncoeducation, nouncollege, nouncollegiate, adjectivecommon room, nouncomprehension, nouncomprehensive, adjectivecomputer-literate, adjectivecomputer science, nouncontinuing education, nouncorrespondence course, nouncoursebook, nouncoursework, nouncrash course, nouncredit, nouncrib, verbcross, nouncurriculum, nounD, noundiploma, noundirect method, nounDirector of Studies, noundissect, verbdistance learning, noundistinction, noundo, verbdropout, noundyslexia, nounedify, verbedifying, adjectiveeducate, verbeducational, adjectiveeducationalist, nouneducator, nounEFL, nounELT, nounESL, nounESOL, nounESP, nounessay, nounevening class, nounexam, nounexamination, nounexamine, verbexercise, nounexercise book, nounexternal, adjectiveextracurricular, adjectiveF, fail, nounfellowship, nounfield, nounfield day, nounfield trip, nounfieldwork, nounflashcard, nounflip chart, nounflunk, verbfree period, nounfresher, nounfreshman, nounfurther education, nounglobe, noungoverness, noungrade, verbgraded, adjectivegrade point average, noungrind, nounheuristic, adjectivehistory, nounimmersion, nounineducable, adjectiveinfirmary, nounintake, nounintelligence quotient, nouninterdisciplinary, adjectiveintroductory, adjectiveinvigilate, verbIQ, nounjanitor, nounlearning curve, nounlesson, nounletter, nounletter, verbliberal arts, nounlibrarian, nounlibrary, nounlife science, nounmainstream, adjectivemasterclass, nounmatron, nounmedia studies, nounmnemonic, nounmoderate, verbmoderator, nounmodular, adjectivemodule, nounmultiple choice, adjectivenight school, nounnumerate, adjectiveopen house, nounoral, nounoverqualified, adjectivepapier mâché, nounpass, verbpass, nounpastoral, adjectivepedagogical, adjectivepedagogue, nounpedagogy, nounphonics, nounphrasebook, nounphysical education, nounpicture book, nounplacement, nounplaytime, nounpoli sci, nounpolitical science, nounpolitics, nounprincipal, nounprize day, nounproblem, nounproctor, nounprogrammed learning, nounprotégé, nounquad, nounqualification, nounqualify, verbquick, adjectiverector, nounre-educate, verbrefectory, nounreference, nounreference library, nounrequirement, nounresearch, nounresearch, verbresit, verbresource, nounresult, nounresume, nounretake, verbretake, nounreunion, nounreview, verbrevise, verbrevision, nounrole-play, nounrote, nounscholar, nounscholarship, nounscholastic, adjectiveschool, nounscience, nounscript, nounself-taught, adjectiveset, verbspeciality, nounspelling bee, nounstandard, adjectivestate school, nounstudent body, nounstudent government, nounstudent loan, nounstudent teaching, nounstudent union, nounstudy, verbstudy hall, nounsub, nounsummer holidays, nounsummer vacation, nounsuperintendent, nounteacher, nounteaching, nountechie, nounterm, nounterm paper, nounTESL, nounTESOL, nountext, nountextbook, nountick, nountick, verbtimetable, nountimetable, verbtranscript, nountrimester, nountruancy, nountuition, nountutor, nountutor, verbunderclassman, noununit, noununseen, nounvisual aid, nounvocational, adjectivewhiteboard, nounworkbook, nounworksheet, nounX, nounyearbook, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
He wrote a letter of acceptance (=a letter in which you agree to accept a job, university place etc) to the university. a begging letter (=a letter asking for money) a letter of condolence I owe Shaun a letter; I must write soon. She’s just gone to post a letter. I wrote her several letters, but she didn’t reply.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(also receive a letter formal)· I got a letter from my mother.
· He wrote a letter inviting her to visit.
· The school sent a letter to all the children’s parents.
British English, mail a letter American English· Could you post this letter for me?
· I never answered his letter.
· Bill opened the letter and read it.
· May I read her letter?
· A letter came for you today.
(=has their name and address on the envelope)· The letter was addressed to Mr. John Appleby.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + letter· She was thrilled to get a long letter from her son.
· The letter sounded very formal.
· I don’t want him reading my personal letters.
· In business letters you often use phrases such as ‘I would be grateful if ...’.
· I received an official letter thanking me for my enquiry.
· The book had a copy of a love letter from King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn.
· Mum made me write thank-you letters for all my birthday presents.
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· I finally got a letter of apology from the company.
COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘invitation letter’ or ‘complaint letter’. Say letter of invitation or letter of complaint.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He wrote a letter of acceptance (=a letter in which you agree to accept a job, university place etc) to the university. (=one that is often unpleasant or contains threats)
· We agreed to write a letter of apology.
· The purpose of your letter of application is to get an interview.
a begging letter (=a letter asking for money) (also a parcel bomb British English) (=sent in a letter or parcel)· A second letter bomb was found among the unopened mail.
(=that prints some of the letters a newspaper receives)· Thousands of letters poured in to the correspondence column.
· I wrote a letter of complaint to the hospital manager.
a letter of condolence· She found a love letter from another woman in his wallet.
I owe Shaun a letter; I must write soon. She’s just gone to post a letter.· He immediately wrote a letter of resignation.
· We are grateful for all the messages of sympathy we have received.
· Can you think of a six-letter word meaning ‘difficult’?
(=a very rude word)· The programme was full of four letter words.
I wrote her several letters, but she didn’t reply.· Probably a group of students who amuse themselves by writing anonymous letters to the papers.· That's the best cure for people who write anonymous letters.· An anonymous letter, and, when that didn't work, Jem and Eric doing her flat over.· She had an anonymous letter last night, and tried to burn it before I could see it.· We do not publish anonymous letters, although we may withhold a writer's identify if it is justified.· They had found the man who had written the anonymous letter.· Starting in the summer of 1989, several gendarmes publicized their grievances in anonymous letters to the press.
· She labelled them neatly, writing the addresses in ball point pen and capital letters.· Some one wrote in all capital letters that unqualified disabled workers were slacking off and getting special privileges.· The teacher had helped them with the capital letter to begin the sentence and the full stop at the end.· Physicians Resource said it will use proceeds for acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures and letters of credit.· Sequences in capital letters are exons, while lower case letters indicate intron sequences.· A text for students devoted seven pages to the use of a capital letter to indicate a proper noun.· Baseline the line on which the bases of capital letters sit.· Another thing Nisodemus was good at was giving words capital letters.
NOUN· Hunt alert: Huntsmen in Northern Ireland have been alerted by police after letter bombs were sent to two hunt members.· Two letter bombs, in 1961 and 1980, cost Brunner the use of an eye and the fingers of one hand.· He says the letter bombs could have injured any of the people who handled them on their way to their targets.· In a search of the offices, police found a second letter bomb among the unopened mail.· At least two people were injured by the letter bombs.· The letter bombs were described as more sophisticated and more powerful than the ones mailed from Istanbul.
· In another, children put a lighted firework through the letter box of a house.· All of it divvied up, who you talked to, where you walked, which letter box you posted your mail.· Frankie was a nice little thing actually, when there were no screams coming from that amazing letter box mouth.· I shudder to think what I should do when her next social invitation arrives in the letter box!· I glued up the cat flap. 1 sprayed the letter box with insect repellent.· He was pressed against the wood face, his hips hard on to the letter box, and he cursed the slow reaction.· Get a special cover for the letter box.· When she got home she found an assignment pushed through her letter box.
· In the glove compartment of his car was another love letter, this time written by her husband.· She read her love letters alone in the woods.· You wrote him all those love letters, and then I suppose you got tired of it, and stopped!· I must have been about fifteen when I received my first love letter.· Leonardo forges a love letter from Emilia, and bribes a servant to deliver it to Eustathius along with Emilia's stolen glove.· I read his crowded arms and think of tattooed gravestones - love letters lost in all the long grass.· It was a love letter, it was what she wanted and would she have the nerve to deliver it?· The bundles of love letters testify to that.
VERB· He sadly posted this letter on a wet Sunday afternoon in Leeds.· I sleep easily, rising before ten the following morning, to post my letter.· Roseau, the capital, had primitive street lighting, no smart shops, and nowhere to post a letter.· That between the Wars you could post a letter on a tram?· I had an engagement in town that morning so I didn't post the letter.· Picture yourself posting the letter, and feeling that it was a simple matter after all!· This afternoon I wanted to ask Caliban to post a letter to G.P. from me.· Detectives found envelopes identical to those used to post the letters.
· You see, on the day you read this letter another 14,000 infant lives will be lost.· A young woman wearing glasses with thick lenses sat on a huge sack, reading a letter.· He was reading once again a letter he had received three days ago.· You could write happily in that window, or draw, or read a letter.· Is he oppressed by the same obscure shame that I felt when I read the letter?· As I read the letter inside, a little shiver of panic shot through me.· I felt very proud of her and read her the letter.· I had the jury read the now-infamous letter of the chairman of the board, Dean McGee.
· The Northern has received telephone calls and letters from people who have contributed and want to know what is happening.· Instead, you will receive another letter.· But within a week, Norman received a letter from the council.· She later received a form letter advising her that she had been selected for this position.· If you leave as soon as you receive this letter, you should be back home before midnight.· At the end of the play, Derikson receives a letter from Frederica, whom he had thought dead, begging forgiveness.· Just before Easter, I received a letter about a series of television advertisements.
· Patients who've complained about the long wait have been sent letters of apology.· Horgan said she had just sent out temporary layoff letters to three of her 40 employees.· Doctors have been sent a letter by Sandoz pointing out that 4 people have suffered liver failure after taking Lamisil.· If he refused to send a letter, he would have to explain himself to Krauss.· Mr Fordy said all local hauliers were sent letters before the restriction came into being.· She did not send her letter.· Do not fail, Mr Browning had said, to send on any letters from Somerset with all speed.
· Aerospatiale has signed a letter of intent to buy which will be implemented, one way or another, on January 15.· What kind of justice do we have in this country when a signed and dated letter offering a job means nothing?· Within six weeks, it was Ford who conceded, after seventy-six senators signed a letter demanding that he back off.· By signing this letter, you confirm that this is the case.· Prospects may begin signing letters of intent Wednesday.· They announced yesterday that they have signed a letter of intent to merge under the name Comarco International Inc.
· After two hours, he went back to the Treasury and wrote his resignation letter.· She sent her packages for Christmas, Easter and birthdays, and wrote her regular letters.· He had written her several letters, and had had two prim replies.· Lychner also wrote letters to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles when a criminal was due to be released.· Who knows, in 40 years time some present five-year-old may be writing a similar letter!· They held press conferences and wrote letters to the editor.· But Cleo wrote letters though it wasn't humanly possible that she should.· To want to write letters in strange-colored inks on unusual paper.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► English/American/German etc lettersPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be besieged with letters/demands/requests etc► stinking letter► thank-you letter/note/card
1a written or printed message that is usually put in an envelope and sent by mailletter from/to- She thinks recipes must be followed to the letter.
- A month afterwards the teams will be sent out to discover whether retailers are sticking to the letter of the law.
- He returned to the letter he had begun typing earlier.
- Marc's protocol was observed to the letter after Jimmy's rashness.
- Nasty cop, nice cop: they were following procedure to the letter.
- Prion arguments were consigned to the letters columns of scientific journals.
- She could only do that if he kept her secrets and obeyed her instructions to the letter.
- She returned to the letter in her hand, turning it over in her slender fingers before opening it.
- You must follow these to the letter or you may have to pay private charges.
- The builders may have adhered to the letter of the law, but not its spirit.
- A month afterwards the teams will be sent out to discover whether retailers are sticking to the letter of the law.
- By sticking to the letter of the law, the spirit of the law may be lost.
- Some one who did not feel obliged to follow the letter of the law, or the instructions of the judge.
- Sticking to the letter of the law v. sticking to its spirit.
- The agent counsels them obliquely against waste, repeats the letter of the law, and smiles.
- The heart of all this is going beyond the letter of the law with your clients.
- His movements were slow, his gaze abstracted, as if he were composing a poem in his head.
- Me and my sore back composed a letter to Martina.
- Presumably Mira is composing a poem, counting the syllables as she walks.
- She began to compose a letter in her head, then rejected the idea.
- The trainee is expected to compose a letter and a memo from short notes provided.
- Then he turned over the piece of paper and composed a letter to his wife, Olga.
- Anyone who dares defend this breakthrough speaks in hushed tones, fearing crank calls and canceled grants.
- Mr Smith launched a stinging attack on John Major, ridiculing him as a man who has lost control of events.
- The company which used to give £40,000 a year to Tory funds, launched a stinging attack on Government policies.
- What upsets her much more than the two columns is a stinging letter to the editor published in the sports pages.
I got a letter from Melanie today. Bart’s writing a letter to his parents. → chain letter, letter of credit, open letter2a 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 letters3to the letter paying exact attention to the details of something: I followed the instructions to the letter, but it still wouldn’t work.4the 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)5American 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.6English/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 lettersCOLLOCATIONSverbsget 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 + letterlong/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.phrasesa letter of thanks/introduction/complaint etc· I finally got a letter of apology from the company.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘invitation letter’ or ‘complaint letter’. Say letter of invitation or letter of complaint.letter1 nounletter2 verb
letterletter2 verb EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He makes signs and letters business vans.
- Alexander played piano, lettered in basketball and tennis and excelled as a student leader.
- LaRue, a 3. 3 engineering student, has also lettered in football and baseball.
WORD SETS
absenteeism, nounacademic, adjectiveacademy, nounadult education, nounalma mater, nounassessment, nounassessor, nounassignment, nounaudiovisual, adjectiveAV, binder, nounbiology, nounblackboard, nounbursary, nounbusiness studies, nounCAL, nounCALL, nouncareer counselor, nouncareers officer, nouncase study, nounCDT, nouncert., certificate, nouncertificated, adjectivechalkboard, nouncharm school, nounchemistry set, nouncivics, nounclass, nounclassicist, nounclassmate, nouncloze test, nouncoach, nouncoeducation, nouncollege, nouncollegiate, adjectivecommon room, nouncomprehension, nouncomprehensive, adjectivecomputer-literate, adjectivecomputer science, nouncontinuing education, nouncorrespondence course, nouncoursebook, nouncoursework, nouncrash course, nouncredit, nouncrib, verbcross, nouncurriculum, nounD, noundiploma, noundirect method, nounDirector of Studies, noundissect, verbdistance learning, noundistinction, noundo, verbdropout, noundyslexia, nounedify, verbedifying, adjectiveeducate, verbeducational, adjectiveeducationalist, nouneducator, nounEFL, nounELT, nounESL, nounESOL, nounESP, nounessay, nounevening class, nounexam, nounexamination, nounexamine, verbexercise, nounexercise book, nounexternal, adjectiveextracurricular, adjectiveF, fail, nounfellowship, nounfield, nounfield day, nounfield trip, nounfieldwork, nounflashcard, nounflip chart, nounflunk, verbfree period, nounfresher, nounfreshman, nounfurther education, nounglobe, noungoverness, noungrade, verbgraded, adjectivegrade point average, noungrind, nounheuristic, adjectivehistory, nounimmersion, nounineducable, adjectiveinfirmary, nounintake, nounintelligence quotient, nouninterdisciplinary, adjectiveintroductory, adjectiveinvigilate, verbIQ, nounjanitor, nounlearning curve, nounlesson, nounletter, nounletter, verbliberal arts, nounlibrarian, nounlibrary, nounlife science, nounmainstream, adjectivemasterclass, nounmatron, nounmedia studies, nounmnemonic, nounmoderate, verbmoderator, nounmodular, adjectivemodule, nounmultiple choice, adjectivenight school, nounnumerate, adjectiveopen house, nounoral, nounoverqualified, adjectivepapier mâché, nounpass, verbpass, nounpastoral, adjectivepedagogical, adjectivepedagogue, nounpedagogy, nounphonics, nounphrasebook, nounphysical education, nounpicture book, nounplacement, nounplaytime, nounpoli sci, nounpolitical science, nounpolitics, nounprincipal, nounprize day, nounproblem, nounproctor, nounprogrammed learning, nounprotégé, nounquad, nounqualification, nounqualify, verbquick, adjectiverector, nounre-educate, verbrefectory, nounreference, nounreference library, nounrequirement, nounresearch, nounresearch, verbresit, verbresource, nounresult, nounresume, nounretake, verbretake, nounreunion, nounreview, verbrevise, verbrevision, nounrole-play, nounrote, nounscholar, nounscholarship, nounscholastic, adjectiveschool, nounscience, nounscript, nounself-taught, adjectiveset, verbspeciality, nounspelling bee, nounstandard, adjectivestate school, nounstudent body, nounstudent government, nounstudent loan, nounstudent teaching, nounstudent union, nounstudy, verbstudy hall, nounsub, nounsummer holidays, nounsummer vacation, nounsuperintendent, nounteacher, nounteaching, nountechie, nounterm, nounterm paper, nounTESL, nounTESOL, nountext, nountextbook, nountick, nountick, verbtimetable, nountimetable, verbtranscript, nountrimester, nountruancy, nountuition, nountutor, nountutor, verbunderclassman, noununit, noununseen, nounvisual aid, nounvocational, adjectivewhiteboard, nounworkbook, nounworksheet, nounX, nounyearbook, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He wrote a letter of acceptance (=a letter in which you agree to accept a job, university place etc) to the university. a begging letter (=a letter asking for money) a letter of condolence I owe Shaun a letter; I must write soon. She’s just gone to post a letter. I wrote her several letters, but she didn’t reply.
He wrote a letter of acceptance (=a letter in which you agree to accept a job, university place etc) to the university. (=one that is often unpleasant or contains threats)
· We agreed to write a letter of apology.
· The purpose of your letter of application is to get an interview.
a begging letter (=a letter asking for money) (also a parcel bomb British English) (=sent in a letter or parcel)· A second letter bomb was found among the unopened mail.
(=that prints some of the letters a newspaper receives)· Thousands of letters poured in to the correspondence column.
· I wrote a letter of complaint to the hospital manager.
a letter of condolence· She found a love letter from another woman in his wallet.
I owe Shaun a letter; I must write soon. She’s just gone to post a letter.· He immediately wrote a letter of resignation.
· We are grateful for all the messages of sympathy we have received.
· Can you think of a six-letter word meaning ‘difficult’?
(=a very rude word)· The programme was full of four letter words.
I wrote her several letters, but she didn’t reply.PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be besieged with letters/demands/requests etc► stinking letter► thank-you letter/note/card
1[transitive] to write, draw, paint etc letters or words on something: - His movements were slow, his gaze abstracted, as if he were composing a poem in his head.
- Me and my sore back composed a letter to Martina.
- Presumably Mira is composing a poem, counting the syllables as she walks.
- She began to compose a letter in her head, then rejected the idea.
- The trainee is expected to compose a letter and a memo from short notes provided.
- Then he turned over the piece of paper and composed a letter to his wife, Olga.
- Anyone who dares defend this breakthrough speaks in hushed tones, fearing crank calls and canceled grants.
- Mr Smith launched a stinging attack on John Major, ridiculing him as a man who has lost control of events.
- The company which used to give £40,000 a year to Tory funds, launched a stinging attack on Government policies.
- What upsets her much more than the two columns is a stinging letter to the editor published in the sports pages.
The card was neatly lettered P. A. DUFFY.be lettered in something Several pages are lettered in gold.GRAMMAR Letter is usually passive in this meaning.2[intransitive] American English to earn a letter1(5) in a sportletter in He lettered in basketball at Brandeis.