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letter
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As a noun, letter means a symbol in an alphabet. As a verb, it means print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.
Meanings of letter
18 meaningsnoun
A symbol in an alphabet.
“There are twenty-six letters in the English alphabet.”
A written or printed communication, generally longer and more formal than a note.
“I wrote a letter to my sister about my life.”
The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (the spirit).
pluralLiterature.
“Benjamin Franklin was multiskilled – a scientist, politician and a man of letters.”
lawA division unit of a piece of law marked by a letter of the alphabet.
“Letter (b) constitutes an exception to this provision.”
USA size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm, US paper sizes rounded to the nearest 5 mm).
CanadaA size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.
One who lets, or lets out.
“the letter of a room”
“a blood-letter”
A written message addressed to a person or organization
“mailed an indignant letter to the editor”
Similar: missiveThe conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech
“his grandmother taught him his letters”
Similar: letter of the alphabet, alphabetic characterOwner who lets another person use something (housing usually) for hireperson
A strictly literal interpretation (as distinct from the intention)
“he followed instructions to the letter”
“he obeyed the letter of the law”
An award earned by participation in a school sport
“he won letters in three sports”
Similar: varsity letter
Older and rare meanings (2)
printingdatedA single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
archaicOne who retards or hinders.
Clipping of varsity letter.
verb
To print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.
USscholasticTo earn a varsity letter (award).
Mark letters on or mark with letters
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).