letter
noun /ˈletə(r)/
/ˈletər/
Idioms - a written, typed or printed message that is put in an envelope or attached to an email and sent to somebody
- to write/send (somebody) a letter
- to receive/get a letter
- (British English) to post a letter
- (North American English) to mail a letter
- a thank-you/resignation/rejection letter
- letter to somebody In a letter to members, the Chairman explained the changes.
- I wrote a letter to the editor of our local paper.
- letter from somebody You may need a letter from your doctor.
- a letter of something a letter of recommendation/complaint/apology
- by letter You will be notified by letter.
Extra ExamplesTopics Literature and writinga1- More than 100 scientists have signed a letter to the Prime Minister.
- In a letter dated 8 January last year, residents warned of the fire risk.
- Her letter was published in the local paper.
- There's a letter here addressed to you.
- I'm just going out to post/mail a letter.
- He's applied for dozens of jobs and had dozens of rejection letters.
- Police received an anonymous letter about the case.
- I started to receive threatening letters demanding further payments.
- We've had so many calls and letters from people who are worried.
- Keep a copy of the letter on file.
- Put the information in an email or a letter and send it to me.
- I got a letter from their lawyers threatening legal action.
- We welcome letters from our readers.
- They sent me a letter saying the appointment had been changed.
- Why don't you write her a letter saying how you feel?
- I went home and wrote a letter of resignation.
- He made these remarks in a letter to a friend.
- He fired off a letter of complaint to the Chief Executive.
- A collection of letters between the artist and her sister has been published.
- A letter headed ‘Advertising Mania’ appeared in the paper.
- Apart from the occasional letter, they had not been in touch for years.
- George Bernard Shaw was a prolific letter writer.
- His letter went on to give reasons for his refusal to take part.
- I haven't had a letter from her for ages.
- I hope my last letter has reached you.
- I was angry that they didn't even acknowledge my letter.
- I wrote my uncle a thank-you letter as soon as I opened the present.
- In your letter of 5 June…
- Our letters crossed in the post.
- Please reply by letter.
- She drafted an angry letter to the newspaper.
- She wrote him a letter saying that she was not coming back.
- She wrote an impassioned letter to her local newspaper to complain about the new road.
- She received countless letters of support while in jail.
- The charity received an anonymous letter enclosing a large cheque.
- The conditions are explained in the accompanying letter.
- The letter concluded with a threat of possible legal action.
- The letter contained information that only the killer could know.
- The letter is dated 7 July.
- The letter started off by thanking us for our offer.
- The letter was addressed to me.
- The letter was forwarded from my old address.
- The porter distributes incoming letters to the offices.
- We reserve the right to cut or edit letters.
- a letter of application/apology
- a letter to the editor (= of a newspaper)
- The prime minister has sent a letter of condolence to the family of the missing pilot.
- They wrote a letter of complaint to the television network.
- There's a letter for you from your mother.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- lengthy
- long
- brief
- …
- draft
- write
- read
- …
- arrive
- come
- reach somebody
- …
- writer
- writing
- carrier
- …
- by letter
- in a/the letter
- letter about
- …
- a written or printed sign representing a sound used in speech
- 'B' is the second letter of the alphabet.
- How many letters are in the Greek alphabet?
- the letter A/B/C
- I'm thinking of a word that begins with the letter M.
- in… letters She typed the word ‘HISTORY’ in capital letters.
- The slogan is printed in bold letters across the top.
Extra Examples- Chai is the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
- The pieces of card were marked with letters of the alphabet.
- Each item is assigned a different number or letter.
- He had typed a jumble of letters and numbers.
- All their names begin with the same letter.
- The first letter of my name is K, not C.
- His name is written Louis, but you don't pronounce the last letter.
- What do those letters after your name mean?
- The system does not distinguish between upper and lower case letters.
- words such as ‘debt’ and ‘half’, which contain silent letters
- Words with double letters, such as ‘accommodate’, are commonly misspelled.
- The company's name is made from the initial letters of his children's names.
- Fill in the form in block letters.
- His name was written in large white letters over the doorway.
- The card said ‘Birthday Girl’ in gold letters.
- The title of the book is in large raised letters on the front.
- At the end of the course you will receive a letter grade from A–F.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- large
- block
- …
- in… letters
- the letters of the alphabet
- (North American English) a sign in the shape of a letter that is sewn onto clothes to show that a person plays in a school or college sports team
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French lettre, from Latin litera, littera ‘letter of the alphabet’, (plural) ‘epistle, literature, culture’.
Idioms
the letter of the law
- (often disapproving) the exact words of a law or rule rather than its general meaning
- They insist on sticking to the letter of the law.
- We might be guilty of slightly bending the letter of the law.
- In spite of the difficulties it would cause her family, the judge stuck to the letter of the law and jailed her.
to the letter
- doing/following exactly what somebody/something says, paying attention to every detail
- I followed your instructions to the letter.