Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense mails, present participle mailing, past tense, past participle mailed
1. singular noun [oft byNOUN]
The mail is the public service or system by which letters and parcels are collected and delivered.
Your check is in the mail.
People had to renew their motor vehicle registrations through the mail.
The firm has offices in several large cities, but does most of its business by mail.
Synonyms: postal service, post, postal system More Synonyms of mail
2. uncountable noun [oft theNOUN]
You can refer to letters and parcels that are delivered to you as mail.
There was no mail except the usual junk addressed to the occupier.
Nora looked through the mail.
Synonyms: letters, post, packages, parcels More Synonyms of mail
3. verb
If you mail a letter or parcel to someone, you send it to them by putting it in a post box or taking it to a post office.
[mainly US]
Last year, he mailed the documents to French journalists. [VERB noun + to]
He mailed me the contract. [VERB noun noun]
The Government has already mailed some 18 million households with details of thepublic offer. [VERB noun + with]
[Also VERB noun]regional note: in BRIT, usually use post
Synonyms: post, send, forward, dispatch More Synonyms of mail
4. verb
To mail a message to someone means to send it to them by means of email or a computer network.
...if a report must be electronically mailed to an office by 9 am the next day. [beVERB-ed preposition]
[Also VERB noun]
Mail is also a noun.
If you have any problems then send me some mail.
5. See also mailing, chain mail, electronic mail, email, hate mail, junk mail, surface mail
Phrasal verbs:
See mail out
More Synonyms of mail
mail in British English1
(meɪl)
noun
1. Also called (esp Brit): post
letters, packages, etc, that are transported and delivered by the post office
2.
the postal system
3.
a single collection or delivery of mail
4.
a train, ship, or aircraft that carries mail
5. short for electronic mail
6. (modifier)
of, involving, or used to convey mail
a mail train
verb(transitive)
7. mainly US and Canadian
to send by mail
Usual Brit word: post
8.
to contact (a person) by electronic mail
9.
to send (a message, document, etc) by electronic mail
Derived forms
mailable (ˈmailable)
adjective
mailability (ˌmailaˈbility)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French male bag, probably from Old High German malha wallet
mail in British English2
(meɪl)
noun
1.
a type of flexible armour consisting of riveted metal rings or links
2.
the hard protective shell of such animals as the turtle and lobster
verb
3. (transitive)
to clothe or arm with mail
Derived forms
mail-less (ˈmail-less)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Old French maille mesh, from Latin macula spot
mail in British English3
(meɪl)
noun
archaic, mainly Scottish
a monetary payment, esp of rent or taxes
Word origin
Old English māl terms, from Old Norse māl agreement
mail in British English4
(meɪl)
noun
Australian informal
a rumour or report, esp a racing tip
mail in American English1
(meɪl)
noun
1.
a. Scottish
a bag or piece of baggage
b. Archaic
a bag or packet of letters, etc. to be transported by post
2.
a.
letters, papers, packages, etc. handled, transported, and delivered by the post office
b. US
letters, papers, etc. received or sent by a person, company, etc.
3.
the system of collection, transportation, and delivery of letters, packages, etc.; postal system
: also called the mails
4.
the collection or delivery of letters, packages, etc. at a certain time
late for the morning mail
5. Chiefly British
a vehicle for mail
6.
e-mail
adjective
7.
of mail
; esp.,
a.
carrying, or used in the handling of, mail
b.
designating a person, or boat, train, etc. that transports letters, packages, etc.
verb transitive
8. US
to send by mail, as by putting into a mailbox; post
Derived forms
mailability (ˌmailaˈbility)
noun
mailable (ˈmailable)
adjective
Word origin
ME male < OFr < MHG malhe, a traveling bag < OHG malaha, wallet
mail in American English2
(meɪl)
noun
1.
flexible body armor made of small, overlapping metal rings, loops of chain, or scales
2.
the hard protective covering of some animals, as turtles
verb transitive
3.
to cover or protect with or as with mail
Derived forms
mailed
adjective
Word origin
ME maile < OFr maille, a link, mesh < L macula, a spot, mesh of a net
mail in American English3
(meɪl)
noun
Chiefly Scottish
rent or payment of any kind
Word origin
ME male, rent, tribute: see blackmail
COBUILD Collocations
mail
deliver mail
Examples of 'mail' in a sentence
mail
Everyone loves a nice bit of junk mail.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We urge the public to secure their mail boxes and employ measures to protect their identities.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sign up to the mailing lists of the rail providers you use for details of deals and sales as they are announced.
The Sun (2017)
For many householders, mail too easily vanishes into junk mail.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The survey found that just 23 per cent of all businesses see mail as vital.
Computing (2010)
Once they get into the building they can steal the mail, which may contain new debit or credit cards posted to the address.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her mum used to have celebrity magazines around the house, but now there's only junk mail with her name still on it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The local bank shows you a map of mail delivery times.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
The last in the story is an email purporting to help the recipient deal with junk mail.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
How is a universal mail service to be guaranteed?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Most of my post is junk mail and bills.
The Sun (2009)
Using a driver allows me to work on my mail and read reports during the trip.
Kiam, Victor Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)
Cheers and whistles rang through a ship when mail call was piped.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
Our mail was checked going in and out.
The Sun (2009)
E-mail enthusiasts refer to postal delivery as snail mail.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It denied claims that it was prioritising more lucrative junk mail.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This is a much better way of getting a record deal than sending unsolicited mail through the post.
Evans, Andrew The Secrets of Musical Confidence (1994)
Digging into a full box of chain mail, she finds some covered in sticky red liquid.
The Sun (2012)
Competitors have been able to cherry pick the profitable areas, such as business mail.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We have a new technology in electronic mail, mobile phones and texting.
The Sun (2009)
He said the move would also lead to the closure of delivery offices, mail centres and the destruction of its rural network.
The Sun (2007)
Jump the first mail train I see.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
THOUSANDS of expats' referendum votes could be lost after a blunder by European mail firms.
The Sun (2016)
Word lists with
mail
armour
In other languages
mail
British English: mail /meɪl/ NOUN
Mail is the letters and parcels that are delivered to you.
She looked through the mail.
American English: mail
Arabic: بَرِيْدٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: correspondência
Chinese: 邮件
Croatian: pošta
Czech: pošta dopisy
Danish: post
Dutch: post brievenpost
European Spanish: correo
Finnish: posti
French: courrier
German: Post
Greek: ταχυδρομείο
Italian: posta
Japanese: 郵便
Korean: 우편물
Norwegian: post
Polish: poczta korespondencja
European Portuguese: correspondência
Romanian: poștă
Russian: почта
Latin American Spanish: correo
Swedish: post brevgång
Thai: จดหมาย
Turkish: posta
Ukrainian: пошта
Vietnamese: thư từ
British English: mail /meɪl/ VERB
If you mail something, you post it.
I mailed a letter to you yesterday.
American English: mail
Arabic: يُرْسِلُ بِالْبَرِيْدِ
Brazilian Portuguese: enviar pelo correio
Chinese: 邮寄
Croatian: poslati poštom
Czech: poslat poštou
Danish: sende
Dutch: posten
European Spanish: echar al correo
Finnish: postittaa
French: poster envoyer
German: senden
Greek: ταχυδρομώ
Italian: spedire
Japanese: 郵送する
Korean: 우송하다
Norwegian: poste
Polish: wysłać pocztą
European Portuguese: enviar pelo correio
Romanian: a expedia
Russian: посылать по почте
Latin American Spanish: echar al correo
Swedish: posta
Thai: ส่งจดหมาย
Turkish: postalamak
Ukrainian: відправляти поштою
Vietnamese: gửi qua bưu điện
All related terms of 'mail'
e-mail
a system for sending messages , as by telephone line, from one computer or terminal to a receiving computer or terminal and for storing such messages
v-mail
a video message sent by e-mail
bulk mail
a category of mail for mailing large numbers of identical printed items to individual addressees at less than first-class rates, as circulars or bulletins
fan mail
mail sent to a famous person, such as a pop musician or film star , by admirers
hate mail
If someone receives hate mail , they receive unpleasant or threatening letters.
junk mail
Junk mail is advertisements and publicity materials that you receive through the post or by email which you have not asked for and which you do not want .
mail bomb
a thin explosive device inside an envelope , detonated when the envelope is opened
mail car
a railway coach specially constructed for the transportation of mail
mail drop
a receptacle or chute for mail
mail out
If someone mails out things such as letters, leaflets , or bills , they send them to a large number of people at the same time.
mail room
a room in an organization in which mail sent to the organization is sorted and outgoing mail is prepared for posting
mail slot
a slot , usually covered with a hinged flap , through which letters, etc are delivered to a building
mail van
a small or medium-sized road vehicle that is used to transport letters, packages , etc
chain mail
Chain mail is a kind of armour made from small metal rings joined together so that they look like cloth .
direct mail
Direct mail is a method of marketing which involves companies sending advertising material directly to people who they think may be interested in their products .
grund mail
payment for the right to be buried
mail clerk
a person who performs clerical work in a post office
mail coach
a railway coach specially constructed for the transportation of mail
mail merge
Mail merge is a word processing procedure which enables you to combine a document with a data file, for example a list of names and addresses, so that copies of the document are different for each person it is sent to.
mail order
Mail order is a system of buying and selling goods . You choose the goods you want from a company by looking at their catalogue , and the company sends them to you by post.
mail orders
goods that have been ordered by mail order
mail server
a server that manages the receiving and sending of e-mails
mail train
a train that transports letters, packages , etc
mail truck
a large vehicle that is used to transport letters, packages , etc, by road
nixie mail
mail which cannot be delivered due to an incorrect or non-existent address
Royal Mail
→ the Royal Mail
snail mail
Some computer users refer to the postal system as snail mail , because it is very slow in comparison with email.
voice mail
Voice mail is a system of sending messages over the phone . Calls are answered by a machine which connects you to the person you want to leave a message for, and they can listen to their messages later .
deliver mail
You can refer to letters and parcels that are delivered to you as mail .
express mail
mail delivered quicker than normal mail
mail carrier
A mail carrier is a person whose job is to collect and deliver letters and parcels that are sent by post .
mail merging
a software facility that can produce a large number of personalized letters by combining a file containing a list of names and addresses with one containing a single standard document
metered mail
mail franked privately, under licence , with a machine bearing special markings ( meter marks )
overland mail
a government mail service, started in 1848, for sending mail from the Mississippi to the Far West
surface mail
Surface mail is the system of sending letters and parcels by road , rail , or sea, not by air .
certified mail
first-class mail that requires proof of delivery , for a small fee payable by the sender
coat of mail
a protective garment made of linked metal rings ( mail ) or of overlapping metal plates ; hauberk
electronic mail
Electronic mail is the same as → email .
registered mail
a postal service for sending mail of high monetary value: a record of sending the mail is provided, it is signed for by each postal employee handling it, signed for by the addressee , and may be insured
the Royal Mail
the national postal service of the United Kingdom
airmail
Airmail is the system of sending letters , parcels , and goods by air .
mailbag
A mailbag is a large bag that is used by postal workers for carrying mail.
direct-mail shot
the posting of unsolicited sales literature to potential customers ' homes or business addresses
mail order firm
a company that sells goods by mail order
mail-order house
a business establishment that takes mail orders and sends goods by mail
mailboat
a boat that transports letters, packages , etc
coat-of-mail shell
(in ancient Greece and Rome ) a loose woollen tunic worn knee length by men and full length by women
mail-order catalogue
a catalogue of goods you can buy from a particular company by mail order
mailing clerk
a person who performs clerical work in a post office
chiton
(in ancient Greece and Rome ) a loose woollen tunic worn knee length by men and full length by women
Chinese translation of 'mail'
mail
(meɪl)
n(u)
the mail (= the post) 邮(郵)政 (yóuzhèng)
(= letters) 邮(郵)件 (yóujiàn)
(= e-mail) 电(電)子邮(郵)件 (diànzǐ yóujiàn)
vt
(esp US, = post) 寄出 (jìchū)
英 = post
(= e-mail) 发(發)电(電)邮(郵)给(給) (fā diànyóu gěi)
your cheque is in the mail你的支票已寄出 (nǐ de zhīpiào yǐ jìchū)