gb/mˈeɪl/ us/mˈeɪl/
A2
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
letters and parcels sent by post
Letters and packages that are sent to people through the post.
Usage pattern:
receive [mail] from [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'a mail' for a single letter in British English, but in this sense 'mail' is uncountable.
Synonyms
post (More common in British English for the same concept.)
|
correspondence (Refers more generally to written communication, not only physical delivery.)
Antonyms
email (Refers to electronic rather than physical delivery of messages.)
Collocations
send mail
|receive mail
|open mail
|sort mail
|deliver mail
Themes
communication
|daily life
|business
|daily_life
Examples
- I checked the mailbox and found a stack of mail.
- The company receives hundreds of pieces of mail every day.
- She sorted the mail into separate piles for each department.
- The mail arrived later than usual this morning.
- He sent the contract by priority mail.
Learner examples
- I get mail every day.
- She sent me a mail from London.
- The mail came this morning.
- He put the mail on the table.
Noun
A2
entity
2
messages sent electronically
Messages you send or get on a computer or phone using the internet.
Usage pattern:
check [mail] on [device]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'mail' and 'email'; in computing contexts 'mail' often means 'email'.
Synonyms
email (The most common term; 'mail' is sometimes used informally or in computing contexts.)
Antonyms
postal mail (Refers to physical delivery rather than electronic messages.)
Collocations
check mail
|send mail
|delete mail
|read mail
Themes
communication
|technology
Examples
- I check my mail every morning before work.
- Your mail inbox is almost full.
- He sent me the documents by mail instead of attaching them to a chat message.
Learner examples
- I read my mail on my phone.
- She sent me a mail yesterday.
- He checks his mail many times a day.
Verb
A2
action
3
send something by post
To send something to someone using the post.
Usage pattern:
mail [something] to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'mail' with 'to' twice (e.g., 'mail to to someone'). Correct is 'mail [something] to someone'.
Synonyms
post (More common in British English for this action.)
|
send (General term; not necessarily through postal systems.)
Antonyms
receive (Opposite direction of sending.)
Collocations
mail a letter
|mail a package
|mail an order
Themes
communication
|daily life
|daily_life
|business
Examples
- I will mail the invitation tomorrow.
- They mailed the package last week, but it hasn't arrived yet.
- Please mail your payment to the address provided.
Learner examples
- I will mail the letter today.
- She mailed a gift to her friend.
- We mailed the form to the office.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
4
armor of interlinked metal rings
Clothing made from many small metal rings, worn long ago to protect the body in battle.
Synonyms
chainmail (Modern spelling variation used for the same object.)
Collocations
chain mail
|suit of mail
Themes
history
|military
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The knight wore a suit of mail under his tunic.
- Mail was effective against slashing weapons but less so against arrows.
- Historians study how mail was crafted in medieval Europe.
Learner examples
- The knight wore mail for safety.
- Mail was heavy and strong.
- Old soldiers used mail to protect themselves.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mail
IPA
GB/mˈeɪl/
US/mˈeɪl/
Syllables & stress
mail (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (mail)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: mail
- Plural: mails
Verb
- Base: mail
- 3rd Person Singular: mails
- Present Participle: mailing
- Past: mailed
Word family
Expressions
by return of post/mail
3/bˈaɪ ɹɪtˈɚn əv pˈɑstmˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
formal
reply by next post delivery
To send an answer quickly, using the next post service available.
Examples
- Please send us your decision by return of mail.
- They confirmed the booking by return of post.
chain mail
2/t͡ʃˈeɪn mˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
armor made of linked rings
Armor made from many small metal rings joined together.
Examples
- The museum has an impressive display of chain mail.
- Chain mail was commonly worn by medieval soldiers.
mail order
1/mˈeɪl ˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
buying goods for postal delivery
A way to buy things by sending an order and getting them delivered by post.
Examples
- She bought the dress through a mail order catalog.
- Mail order was popular before online shopping became widespread.
junk mail
1/d͡ʒˈʌŋk mˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
unwanted advertising mail or email
Mail or email that you do not want, usually ads sent to many people.
Examples
- I get so much junk mail in my inbox every day.
- I throw most of my junk mail straight into the recycling bin.
- Most of the letters we received this week were just junk mail.
- Check your spam and junk mail folders if you don’t see the confirmation message.
- They complained about the amount of junk mail coming through their door.