Definition

1. Noun:

   • Armor: (Historical) Flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings, worn for protection.
   • Letters and Packages: The letters, packages, and other items sent or delivered by a postal system.
   • The Postal System: The system or service responsible for collecting, transporting, and delivering letters and parcels.
   • A Delivery: A specific batch of letters and packages delivered at one time.

2. Verb:

   • To Send by Post: To send (a letter, package, etc.) through the postal system.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Armor):
  • The knight wore a suit of chain mail.
• Noun (Letters/Packages):
  • Has the morning mail arrived yet?
  • I sorted through the pile of mail on my desk.
• Noun (Postal System):
  • The check was lost in the mail.
  • She works for the U.S. mail.
• Verb:
  • Please mail this letter for me.
  • I will mail the documents to your office.

Advanced Usage

• "To mail something in": To send something by post, often to a specific address for a purpose like a contest or payment.
  • Don't forget to mail in your ballot before the election.
• "Snail mail": (Informal, idiomatic) A term for traditional postal service, contrasting with electronic mail (email), emphasizing its slower speed.
  • I still enjoy getting a handwritten letter by snail mail.

Variants and Related Words

• Chain mail (n): The historical armor made of interlinked rings.
• Air mail (n): A postal service for sending letters and parcels by aircraft.
• E-mail / Email (n/v): Electronic mail; messages distributed by electronic means.
• Mailer (n): A person or company that sends mail; also, a container for mailing something.
• Mailing (n): The act of sending items by post; also, a batch of items sent at one time (e.g., a fundraising mailing).

Synonyms

• Noun (Post): Post, correspondence.
• Noun (Armor): Armor, chain mail.
• Verb: Post, send.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Mail out: To send items, especially in large quantities, to multiple recipients.
  • The company will mail out the new catalogs next week.

Related Idioms

• "The check is in the mail": A common, often humorously suspect, excuse for a delayed payment.
  • He promised the payment was coming and said, "The check is in the mail."
• "Junk mail": Unsolicited advertising or promotional material received by post.
  • My mailbox is always full of junk mail.

Noun

1. (Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings
2. any particular collection of letters or packages that is delivered
   • your mail is on the table
   • is there any post for me?
   • she was opening her post
3. a conveyance that transports the letters and packages that are conveyed by the postal system
4. the system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office
   • the mail handles billions of items every day
   • he works for the United States mail service
   • in England they call mail `the post'
5. the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

Verb

1. cause to be directed or transmitted to another place
   • send me your latest results
   • I'll mail you the paper when it's written
2. send via the postal service
   • I'll mail you the check tomorrow