letterbox

[let-er-boks]

noun

1. Chiefly British.,  Also letter box a public or private mailbox.

2. Digital Technology, Television.,  a technique for displaying a wide-screen film or landscape video on a narrower screen by reducing its size but retaining the aspect ratio, with black bands filling the screen above and below the picture (often used attributively).

   letterbox videos.

verb (used with object)

1. Digital Technology, Television.,  to display (a film or video) by using the letterbox technique.

Word History and Origins

Origin of letterbox¹

First recorded in 1765–75; letter ¹ ( def. ) + box ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

You can cover external keyholes and add a flap or brush to your letterbox, or hang a door curtain.

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Both take cash - the honesty box has envelopes and a letterbox for change.

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A man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s were inside the property in Princess Avenue when an accelerant was poured through the letterbox on the front door and set alight.

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William Newbury, 22, said he was dropping off baby presents to a friend at her boyfriend's house in Llanrumney, Cardiff, on Mother's Day when he saw the "nightmare" attack through their letterbox.

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"It turned out to be the mother, I went up to the letterbox and looked through and saw the mum and the baby being attacked by three dogs," he said.

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