letter
gb/lˈɛtɚ/ us/lˈɛtɚ/
A1
English
~ 500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Written or printed communication
A message that you write on paper and send to someone.
Usage pattern:
to write/send/receive [a letter]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'letter' with 'email' or 'note'. A 'letter' traditionally refers to something written on paper, though it can be typed and printed.
Synonyms
note (Usually shorter and less formal than a letter)
|
message (General term that can refer to written, spoken, or electronic communication)
Antonyms
phone call (Spoken communication instead of written)
Collocations
write a letter
|send a letter
|receive a letter
|love letter
|cover letter
Themes
communication
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I received a letter from my aunt yesterday.
- She wrote a letter to the company to complain about the service.
- He sent a love letter to his girlfriend.
- Please address the letter to the manager.
- The lawyer drafted a formal letter for the client.
Learner examples
- I got a letter from my friend.
- She sent me a long letter.
- I wrote a letter to my teacher.
- He read the letter twice.
- We send letters to our family.
Noun
A1
entity
2
Symbol of the alphabet
A sign in the alphabet that shows one sound in writing.
Usage pattern:
the letter [A/Z/etc.]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'letter' with 'word'; a word is made up of letters.
Synonyms
character (Broader term that can also include symbols not part of an alphabet)
Antonyms
number (Represents quantity rather than a speech sound)
Collocations
capital letter
|small letter
|uppercase letter
|lowercase letter
|the letter A
Themes
language
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- B is the second letter of the English alphabet.
- Please write your name in capital letters.
- The word 'cat' has three letters.
- She taught the child how to form each letter.
- The password must contain at least one letter and one number.
Learner examples
- A is the first letter of the alphabet.
- My name starts with the letter M.
- We learn letters at school.
- This word has five letters.
- Write each letter clearly.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
3
Exact wording of a text
The exact words of a law or text, not its meaning or idea.
Usage pattern:
the letter of [the law/rules]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is often used in contrast with 'spirit'. It is figurative but still common in formal use.
Synonyms
wording (Focuses on the choice and arrangement of words)
Antonyms
spirit (Refers to intended meaning rather than exact wording)
Collocations
the letter of the law
|follow to the letter
Themes
law
|language
|communication
|education
Examples
- The judge ruled according to the letter of the law.
- He followed her instructions to the letter.
- They obeyed the rules in letter but not in spirit.
Learner examples
- We must follow the letter of the law.
- She did it to the letter.
- They keep the rules to the letter.
Grammar
Dictionary form
letter
IPA
GB/lˈɛtɚ/
US/lˈɛtɚ/
Syllables & stress
let - ter (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (let)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: letter
- Plural: letters
Word family
Forms
letters
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
illiterate
adjective
illiteracy
noun
Expressions
letter of the law
1/lˈɛtɚ əv ðə lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
formal
Exact words of a law
The exact words used in a law, not what they really mean or intend.
Examples
- He stuck to the letter of the law, even though it seemed unfair.
- Sometimes justice requires more than just following the letter of the law.
to the letter
1/tə ðə lˈɛtɚ/
idiom
Follow exactly as instructed
To do something exactly as you are told or as it is written.
Examples
- She followed the recipe to the letter and the cake turned out perfectly.
- The contract must be carried out to the letter.