letter

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a message that is written down or printed on paper and usually put in an envelope and sent to sb: a business / thank-you letter * a letter of complaint / sympathy * (BrE) to post a letter * (AmE) to mail a letter * There's a letter for you from your mother. * You will be notified by letter. HELPNOTE You will find compounds ending in letter at their place in the alphabet. 2 a written or printed sign representing a sound used in speech: 'B' is the second letter of the alphabet. * Write your name in capital / block letters. 3 (AmE) a sign in the shape of a letter that is sewn onto clothes to show that a person plays in a school or college sports team IDIOMS the letter of the law (often disapproving) the exact words of a law or rule rather than its general meaning: They insist on sticking to the letter of the law. * We might be guilty of slightly bending the letter of the law. to the letter exactly what sb/sth says, paying attention to every detail: I followed your instructions to the letter. verb 1 [usuallypassive] to give a letter to sth as part of a series or list: [VN-N] Curiously, the stars lettered Alpha and Beta are relatively faint. [also VN] 2 [VN] [usuallypassive] ~ sth (in sth) to print, paint, sew, etc. letters onto sth: a black banner lettered in white 3 [V] (AmE) to receive a letter made of cloth that you sew onto your clothes for playing in a school or college sports team