MAIL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mail mean? 

• MAIL (noun)
  The noun MAIL has 5 senses:

1. the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

2. the system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office

3. a conveyance that transports the letters and packages that are conveyed by the postal system

4. any particular collection of letters or packages that is delivered

5. (Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings

  Familiarity information: MAIL used as a noun is common.

• MAIL (verb)
  The verb MAIL has 2 senses:

1. send via the postal service

2. cause to be directed or transmitted to another place

  Familiarity information: MAIL used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MAIL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("mail" is a kind of...):

message (a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled)

Meronyms (parts of "mail"):

letter; missive (a written message addressed to a person or organization)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mail"):

airmail (letters and packages that are transported by aircraft)

special delivery (mail that is delivered by a special carrier (for an additional charge))

registered mail; registered post (mail that is registered by the post office when sent in order to assure safe delivery)

surface mail (mail that is sent by land or sea)

air mail (mail that is sent by air transport)

third-class mail; third class (mail consisting of printed matter qualifying for reduced postal rates)

bulk mail (mail consisting of large numbers of identical items (circulars or advertisements) sent to individual addresses at less than 1st-class rates and paid for in one lot)

parcel post (postal service that handles packages)

express; express mail (mail that is distributed by a rapid and efficient system)

1st-class mail; 1st class; first-class mail; first class (mail that includes letters and postcards and packages sealed against inspection)

Derivation:

mail (send via the postal service)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

mail; mail service; post; postal service

Context example:

in England they call mail 'the post'

Hypernyms ("mail" is a kind of...):

communicating; communication (the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mail"):

airmail; airpost (a system of conveying mail by aircraft)

snail mail (any mail that is physically delivered by the postal service)

RFD; rural free delivery (free government delivery of mail in outlying country areas)

Derivation:

mail (cause to be directed or transmitted to another place)

mail (send via the postal service)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A conveyance that transports the letters and packages that are conveyed by the postal system

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("mail" is a kind of...):

conveyance; transport (something that serves as a means of transportation)

Derivation:

mail (send via the postal service)

mail (cause to be directed or transmitted to another place)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Any particular collection of letters or packages that is delivered

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

mail; post

Context example:

she was opening her post

Hypernyms ("mail" is a kind of...):

accumulation; aggregation; assemblage; collection (several things grouped together or considered as a whole)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mail"):

fan mail (mail sent to public figures from their admirers)

hate mail (mail that expresses the writer's dislike or hatred (usually in offensive language))

mailing (mail sent by a sender at one time)

Derivation:

mail (send via the postal service)

Sense 5

Meaning:

(Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

chain armor; chain armour; chain mail; mail; ring armor; ring armour; ring mail

Hypernyms ("mail" is a kind of...):

body armor; body armour; cataphract; coat of mail; suit of armor; suit of armour (armor that protects the wearer's whole body)

Domain category:

Dark Ages; Middle Ages (the period of history between classical antiquity and the Italian Renaissance)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mail"):

habergeon ((Middle Ages) a light sleeveless coat of chain mail worn under the hauberk)

byrnie; hauberk (a long (usually sleeveless) tunic of chain mail formerly worn as defensive armor)

gusset; voider (a piece of chain mail covering a place unprotected by armor plate)

brigandine (a medieval coat of chain mail consisting of metal rings sewn onto leather or cloth)

• MAIL (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Send via the postal service

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

get off; mail

Context example:

I'll mail you the check tomorrow

Hypernyms (to "mail" is one way to...):

send; send out (to cause or order to be taken, directed, or transmitted to another place)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mail"):

pouch (send by special mail that goes through diplomatic channels)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

mail (a conveyance that transports the letters and packages that are conveyed by the postal system)

mail (the system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office)

mail (the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service)

mail (any particular collection of letters or packages that is delivered)

mailer (a person who mails something)

mailing (the transmission of a letter)

mailing (mail sent by a sender at one time)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to be directed or transmitted to another place

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

mail; post; send

Context example:

I'll mail you the paper when it's written

Hypernyms (to "mail" is one way to...):

transfer (move from one place to another)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mail"):

express (send by rapid transport or special messenger service)

airmail (send or transport by airmail)

register (send by registered mail)

express-mail (send by express mail or courier)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Sentence examples:

They mail the parcel to their parents
They mail them the parcel

Derivation:

mailing (the transmission of a letter)

mailing (mail sent by a sender at one time)

mailer (a person who mails something)

mail (the system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office)

mail (a conveyance that transports the letters and packages that are conveyed by the postal system)

 Context examples 

A month after he had mailed it, the adventure serial for boys was returned to him by The Youth's Companion.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He had lessoned from Spitz, and from the chief fighting dogs of the police and mail, and knew there was no middle course.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

He went round to the coach office, at my request, and took the box-seat for me on the mail.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

You will see me early by the mail.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

"I had a box of chocolate drops, and the picture I wanted to copy," said Amy, showing her mail.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

If we do, this letter will be a mail ahead.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You may have had computer problems, difficulties with e-mail and electronics, or trouble with your smartphone or car.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

She could have made an inquiry or two, as to the expedition and the expense of the Irish mails;—it was at her tongue's end—but she abstained.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

After having tried to contact Nokia to have their opinion on the issue, this is the e-mail we received.

(Health threats caused by mobile phone radiation, EUROPARL TV)

In the attacks, someone purposely spread anthrax through the U.S. mail.

(Anthrax, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)