letter
Noun:
- A written or printed symbol representing a sound in a language: A letter is one of the individual characters that make up an alphabet, used to write words.
- A written message, typically on paper, sent to a person or organization: A letter is a piece of correspondence, often sent by mail.
- A strict, literal interpretation of words or rules: The letter refers to the exact wording or literal meaning, as opposed to the spirit or intent.
- An award for athletic achievement: In some contexts, especially US schools, a letter is a cloth emblem awarded to a student for participation or excellence in a sport.
Verb:
- To inscribe or mark with letters: To letter something is to write, print, or carve letters onto it.
- To earn an athletic award: To letter is to win a varsity athletic award, typically represented by a cloth emblem.
Noun:
- The word "cat" begins with the letter 'c'.
- She received a long letter from her friend overseas.
- He followed the instructions to the letter, without making any changes.
- She was proud to earn her varsity letter in basketball.
Verb:
- The artist will letter the sign by hand.
- He lettered in football and track during his senior year.
"To the letter": Following instructions or rules exactly and precisely.
- The contract was executed to the letter, leaving no room for error.
"Man/woman of letters": A person who is engaged in literary pursuits, especially a writer or scholar.
- He was respected not just as a scientist but as a man of letters.
"Letter of the law": The strict, literal interpretation of the law, as opposed to its spirit or intent.
- They adhered to the letter of the law, even when it seemed unjust.
Lettering (n): The process or style of writing or inscribing letters.
- The beautiful lettering on the monument was done by a master calligrapher.
Letter-perfect (adj): Correct in every detail; perfectly memorized or executed.
- Her recitation of the poem was letter-perfect.
Letterhead (n): A printed heading on stationery, stating a person's or organization's name and address.
- The official statement was sent on company letterhead.
- Noun (for a written message): Missive, note, epistle, correspondence.
- Noun (for an alphabetic character): Character, symbol, grapheme.
- Verb (to inscribe): Inscribe, write, print, mark.
- Letter up (informal, often in passive): To earn a varsity athletic letter.
- By the end of the season, five new players had been lettered up.
A dead letter: A law, rule, or practice that is no longer observed or enforced.
- That old regulation is now a dead letter and is widely ignored.
Open letter: A letter, often of protest or appeal, addressed to a specific person but published in a newspaper or online for the public to read.
- The activist published an open letter to the president in the national newspaper.
- an award earned by participation in a school sport
- he won letters in three sports
- a strictly literal interpretation (as distinct from the intention)
- he followed instructions to the letter
- he obeyed the letter of the law
- owner who lets another person use something (housing usually) for hire
- the conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech
- his grandmother taught him his letters
- a written message addressed to a person or organization
- mailed an indignant letter to the editor
- mark letters on or mark with letters
- set down or print with letters
- win an athletic letter