letter

[ let-er ]

/ ˈlɛt ər /

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR letter ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

a piece of printing type bearing such a symbol or character.

a particular style of type.

such 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 singular or plural verb)

literature in general.
the profession of literature.
learning; knowledge, especially of literature.

an emblem consisting of the initial or monogram of a school, awarded to a student for extracurricular activity, especially in athletics.

verb (used with object)

to mark or write with letters; inscribe.

verb (used without object)

to earn a letter in an interscholastic or intercollegiate activity, especially a sport: He lettered in track at Harvard.

Nearby words

letronne, lets, lett, lett., letted, letter, letter bomb, letter box, letter card, letter carrier, letter drop

Idioms

to the letter, to the last particular; precisely: His orders were carried out to the letter.

Origin of letter

1175–1225; Middle English, variant of lettre < Old French < Latin littera alphabetic character, in plural, epistle, literature

SYNONYMS FOR letter

8 See literature.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR letter ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

let·ter·er, nounlet·ter·less, adjective

Can be confused

letter lighter liter litter

Definition for letters (2 of 2)

letter

[ let-er ]

/ ˈlɛt ər /

noun Chiefly British.

a person who lets, especially one who rents out property.

Origin of letter

1375–1425; late Middle English letere; see let¹, -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for letters

But then, I would look at the letters that people have sent.
Inside A Finishing School for Transwomen|Sharon Adarlo|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In letters to Theo, Vincent would preach to younger brother the virtues of life.
Decoding Vincent Van Gogh’s Tempestuous, Fragile Mind|Nick Mafi|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its reporting and commentary on politics, society, and arts and letters have nurtured a broad liberal spirit in our national life.
Facebook Prince Purges The New Republic: Inside the Destruction of a 100-Year-Old Magazine|Lloyd Grove|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This past week a new eBay auction announced the sale of “Ancient Egyptian papyrus with Greek letters—Bible.”
Dismembering History: The Shady Online Trade in Ancient Texts|Candida Moss|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Letters would not be hidden away in bedrooms but stored on cell phones.
How Sicko Priests Got Away With It|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Queen Sophia's letters were couched in very energetic language.
A History of Bohemian Literature|Count Ltzow
See "Boulter's Letters" on this subject of the English rule.
The Prose Works of Jonathan Swift, D.D., Vol. VII|Jonathan Swift
Four of the seven letters that constituted the whole correspondence are printed in the Mm.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots|Henry Baird
A few copies of these letters were printed for the use of the Abbotsford Club.
The Book-Hunter|John Hill Burton
In that way he could edit the letters before his secretary saw them.
Tales Of Men And Ghosts|Edith Wharton

British Dictionary definitions for letters (1 of 2)

letters

/ (ˈlɛtəz) /

noun (functioning as plural or singular)

literary knowledge, ability, or learninga man of letters

literary culture in general

an official title, degree, etc, indicated by an abbreviationletters after one's name

British Dictionary definitions for letters (2 of 2)

letter

/ (ˈlɛtə) /

noun

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 envelopeRelated adjective: epistolary

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)Compare spirit 1 (def. 10)

printing archaic a style of typefacea fancy letter

to the letter

following the literal interpretation or wording exactly
attending to every detail

verb

to write or mark letters on (a sign, etc), esp by hand

(tr) to set down or print using letters

Derived Forms

letterer, noun

Word Origin for letter

C13: from Old French lettre, from Latin littera letter of the alphabet

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with letters

letter

In addition to the idiom beginning with letter

letter of the law

also see:

bread and butter letter
crank call (letter)
dead letter
four-letter word
poison-pen letter
red-letter day
to the letter

letter

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of letter

SYNONYMS FOR letter

Related forms

Can be confused

Definition for letters (2 of 2)

letter

noun Chiefly British.

Origin of letter

Examples from the Web for letters

British Dictionary definitions for letters (1 of 2)

letters

noun (functioning as plural or singular)

British Dictionary definitions for letters (2 of 2)

letter

noun

verb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for letter

Idioms and Phrases with letters

letter