letter
The definition of a letter is a symbol representing a speech sound or a written message.
(noun)- An example of letter is A.
- An example of letter is what a child sends to his pen pal.
Letter is defined as to earn a recognition in an activity, especially a sport.
(verb)An example of letter is to earn an award in college basketball.
See letter in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a written or printed symbol employed to represent a speech sound or sounds; character in an alphabet: in some languages, as English, some words contain letters that are no longer sounded
- a written or printed message to a person or group, usually sent by mail in an envelope
- an official document giving certain authorities or privileges: usually used in pl.
- literature generally
- learning; knowledge, esp. of literature
- strict interpretation of the literal meaning, or the literal meaning itself; exact wording
- ☆ a cloth representation of the first letter of the name of a school or college, awarded and worn for superior performance in sports, etc.
- Printing
- a type, impression, or photographic reproduction of a character of the alphabet
- a particular style of type
Origin: ME lettre < OFr < L littera, letter of the alphabet, (in pl.) a letter, epistle
transitive verb
- to make hand-printed letters on; mark with letters: to letter a poster
- to set down in hand-printed letters: to letter one's name
intransitive verb
- to make hand-printed letters
- ☆ Informal to earn a school letter as in a sport
Related Forms:
- letterer noun
noun
See letter in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. A written symbol or character representing a speech sound and being a component of an alphabet.b. A written symbol or character used in the graphemic representation of a word, such as the h in Thames. See Note at Thames.
- A written or printed communication directed to a person or organization.
- A certified document granting rights to its bearer. Often used in the plural.
- Literal meaning: had to adhere to the letter of the law.
- letters (used with a sing. verb)a. Literary culture; belles-lettres.b. Learning or knowledge, especially of literature.c. Literature or writing as a profession.
- Printing a. A piece of type that prints a single character.b. A specific style of type.c. The characters in one style of type.
- An emblem in the shape of the initial of a school awarded for outstanding performance, especially in varsity athletics.
- To write letters on.
- To write in letters.
- To write or form letters.
- To earn a school letter, as for outstanding athletic achievement: She lettered in three collegiate sports.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old French lettre
Origin: , from Latin littera
Origin: , perhaps from Etruscan
Origin: , from Greek diphtherā, hide, leather, writing surface
.Related Forms:
- letˈter·er noun
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