| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024let•ter1 /ˈlɛtɚ/USA pronunciation n. - a written or printed message or communication addressed to a person or organization and usually sent by mail: [countable]Her letters went unanswered.[uncountable* by + ~]The news came by letter.
- a symbol or character that is used in writing and printing to represent a speech sound and is part of an alphabet:[countable]The letter L is the twelfth letter in the English alphabet.
- literal meaning, as distinct from implied meaning (opposed to spirit ):[singular* often: the + ~]the letter of the law.
- Literature letters, [used with a singular or plural verb] literature or learning in general:a man of letters.
v. - to mark or write with letters;
inscribe:[~ + object]The sign was beautifully lettered.
Idioms- Idioms to the letter, to the last particular;
precisely:I followed your instructions to the letter.
let•ter•er, n. [countable]See -lit-. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024let•ter1 (let′ər),USA pronunciation n. - a written or printed communication addressed to a person or organization and usually transmitted by mail.
- a symbol or character that is conventionally used in writing and printing to represent a speech sound and that is part of an alphabet.
- Printinga piece of printing type bearing such a symbol or character.
- Printinga particular style of type.
- Printingsuch types collectively.
- Often, letters. a formal document granting a right or privilege.
- actual terms or wording;
literal meaning, as distinct from implied meaning or intent (opposed to spirit):the letter of the law. - letters, (used with a sing. or pl. v.)
- Literatureliterature in general.
- Literaturethe profession of literature.
- Literaturelearning;
knowledge, esp. of literature.
- an emblem consisting of the initial or monogram of a school, awarded to a student for extracurricular activity, esp. in athletics.
- Idioms to the letter, to the last particular;
precisely:His orders were carried out to the letter.
v.t. - to mark or write with letters;
inscribe.
v.i. - to earn a letter in an interscholastic or intercollegiate activity, esp. a sport:He lettered in track at Harvard.
- Latin littera alphabetic character, in plural, epistle, literature
- Old French
- Middle English, variant of lettre 1175–1225
- 8.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See literature.
let•ter2 (let′ər),USA pronunciation n. [Chiefly Brit.]- British Termsa person who lets, esp. one who rents out property.
- 1375–1425; late Middle English letere; see let1, -er1
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: letter /ˈlɛtə/ n - any of a set of conventional symbols used in writing or printing a language, each symbol being associated with a group of phonetic values in the language; character of the alphabet
- a written or printed communication addressed to a person, company, etc, usually sent by post in an envelope
- the letter ⇒ the strict legalistic or pedantic interpretation of the meaning of an agreement, document, etc; exact wording as distinct from actual intention (esp in the phrase the letter of the law)
- to the letter ⇒ following the literal interpretation or wording exactly
- attending to every detail
vb - to write or mark letters on (a sign, etc), esp by hand
- (transitive) to set down or print using letters
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French lettre, from Latin littera letter of the alphabetˈletterer n |