
Related to mail: Yahoo Mail

mail 1

b. Postal material for a specific person or organization: Could you pick up my mail at the office?
c. Material processed for distribution from a post office at a specified time: delivered the morning mail around town.
2. A postal system. Used with the, sometimes in the plural: used the mail to send the supplies; advertisements sent through the mails.
3. Chiefly British A vehicle by which mail is transported.
4. Mail or messages sent electronically; e-mail.
v. mailed, mail·ing, mails
To send by a postal system: mailed the letter yesterday.
To send letters and other material by a postal system.

[Middle English male, bag, from Old French, of Germanic origin.]

mail′a·ble adj.

mail 2

1. Flexible armor composed of small overlapping metal rings, loops of chain, or scales.
2. The protective covering of certain animals, as the shell of a turtle.
tr.v. mailed, mail·ing, mails
To cover or armor with mail.

[Middle English, from Old French maile, from Latin macula, blemish, mesh.]

mail 3

n. Scots
Rent, payment, or tribute.

[Middle English mol, maile, from Old Norse māl, lawsuit.]


1. (Communications & Information) Also called (esp Brit): post letters, packages, etc, that are transported and delivered by the post office
2. (Communications & Information) the postal system
3. (Communications & Information) a single collection or delivery of mail
4. (Communications & Information) a train, ship, or aircraft that carries mail
5. (Communications & Information) short for electronic mail
6. (Communications & Information) (modifier) of, involving, or used to convey mail: a mail train.
vb (tr)
7. (Communications & Information) chiefly US and Canadian to send by mail. Usual Brit word: post
8. (Computer Science) to contact (a person) by electronic mail
9. (Computer Science) to send (a message, document, etc) by electronic mail
[C13: from Old French male bag, probably from Old High German malha wallet]
ˈmailable adj
ˌmailaˈbility n


1. (Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) a type of flexible armour consisting of riveted metal rings or links
2. (Zoology) the hard protective shell of such animals as the turtle and lobster
(Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) (tr) to clothe or arm with mail
[C14: from Old French maille mesh, from Latin macula spot]
ˈmail-less adj


archaic chiefly Scot a monetary payment, esp of rent or taxes
[Old English māl terms, from Old Norse māl agreement]


informal Austral a rumour or report, esp a racing tip



1. letters, packages, etc., sent or delivered by the postal service.
2. a single collection or delivery of such postal matter.
3. Also, mails. the system, usu. operated by the government, for sending or delivering such postal matter.
4. a conveyance used as a carrier of mail.
5. e-mail.
6. of or pertaining to mail.
7. to send by mail.
[1175–1225; orig. reference to the bag containing letters; compare earlier mail bag, satchel, Middle English male < Old French malle < Frankish]



1. flexible armor of metal rings or plates.
2. any protective armor, as the shell of certain animals.
3. to clothe or arm with mail.
[1250–1300; Middle English maille one of the rings of which such armor was composed]


  • post road - One with a series of post-houses or stations for post-horses; a road on which mail was carried.
  • nixie - Any piece of mail that is unable to be forwarded because it is illegibly or incorrectly addressed.
  • post - Latin posita, "placed," gave us Italian posta, "station on a road," and became French poste, "a station for mail"—from the series of stations that fast horsemen traversed to deliver messages, giving us post, as in "mail system."
  • blackmail - The "mail" in blackmail is Scottish for "tax, tribute," referring to the tribute demanded by rebel chiefs in return for their protection.


1. 'post' and 'mail' as nouns

The public service by which letters and parcels are collected and delivered is usually called the post in British English and the mail in American English. Mail is also sometimes used in British English, for example in the name Royal Mail.

Winners will be notified by post.
Your reply must have been lost in the mail.

British speakers usually refer to letters and parcels delivered to them as their post. American speakers refer to these letters and parcels as their mail. Mail is also sometimes used in British English, especially in phrases such as junk mail and direct mail.

Has the post arrived yet?
I would never open someone else's mail.

In both British and American English, mail is used to mean 'email'.

I switched on my laptop to check my mail.
Did you get that mail I sent you this morning?

In both British and American English, post is used to refer to a comment or message that someone puts on a website.

I read his latest post on his blog.
2. 'postage'

Don't use 'post' or 'mail' to refer to the amount of money that you pay to send a letter or parcel. In both British and American English, this money is called postage.

Send £1.50 extra for postage and packing.
3. 'post' and 'mail' as verbs

British speakers talk about posting a letter or parcel. Americans usually say that they mail it.

The letter had already been posted.
She mailed the picture to a friend.

In both British and American English, you can say that someone mails something to mean that they send it by email.

I'll mail it to you as an attachment.
He mailed to cancel the meeting.

In both British and American English, you can say that someone posts on or posts something on the internet or on a website, to mean that they put a message, comment, or item there.

She regularly posts on a music blog.
I posted the photo on my Facebook page.


Past participle: mailed
Gerund: mailing

I mail
you mail
he/she/it mails
we mail
you mail
they mail
I mailed
you mailed
he/she/it mailed
we mailed
you mailed
they mailed
Present Continuous
I am mailing
you are mailing
he/she/it is mailing
we are mailing
you are mailing
they are mailing
Present Perfect
I have mailed
you have mailed
he/she/it has mailed
we have mailed
you have mailed
they have mailed
Past Continuous
I was mailing
you were mailing
he/she/it was mailing
we were mailing
you were mailing
they were mailing
Past Perfect
I had mailed
you had mailed
he/she/it had mailed
we had mailed
you had mailed
they had mailed
I will mail
you will mail
he/she/it will mail
we will mail
you will mail
they will mail
Future Perfect
I will have mailed
you will have mailed
he/she/it will have mailed
we will have mailed
you will have mailed
they will have mailed
Future Continuous
I will be mailing
you will be mailing
he/she/it will be mailing
we will be mailing
you will be mailing
they will be mailing
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been mailing
you have been mailing
he/she/it has been mailing
we have been mailing
you have been mailing
they have been mailing
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been mailing
you will have been mailing
he/she/it will have been mailing
we will have been mailing
you will have been mailing
they will have been mailing
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been mailing
you had been mailing
he/she/it had been mailing
we had been mailing
you had been mailing
they had been mailing
I would mail
you would mail
he/she/it would mail
we would mail
you would mail
they would mail
Past Conditional
I would have mailed
you would have mailed
he/she/it would have mailed
we would have mailed
you would have mailed
they would have mailed
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.mail - the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal servicemail - the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
1st class, 1st-class mail, first-class mail, first class - mail that includes letters and postcards and packages sealed against inspection
express, express mail - mail that is distributed by a rapid and efficient system
parcel post - postal service that handles packages
third class, third-class mail - mail consisting of printed matter qualifying for reduced postal rates
airmail - letters and packages that are transported by aircraft
air mail - mail that is sent by air transport
surface mail - mail that is sent by land or sea
registered mail, registered post - mail that is registered by the post office when sent in order to assure safe delivery
special delivery - mail that is delivered by a special carrier (for an additional charge)
letter, missive - a written message addressed to a person or organization; "mailed an indignant letter to the editor"
2.mail - the system whereby messages are transmitted via the post officemail - the system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office; "the mail handles billions of items every day"; "he works for the United States mail service"; "in England they call mail `the post'"
airpost, airmail - a system of conveying mail by aircraft
snail mail - any mail that is physically delivered by the postal service; "email is much faster than snail mail"
RFD, rural free delivery - free government delivery of mail in outlying country areas
3.mail - a conveyance that transports the letters and packages that are conveyed by the postal systemmail - a conveyance that transports the letters and packages that are conveyed by the postal system
transport, conveyance - something that serves as a means of transportation
4.mail - any particular collection of letters or packages that is deliveredmail - any particular collection of letters or packages that is delivered; "your mail is on the table"; "is there any post for me?"; "she was opening her post"
fan mail - mail sent to public figures from their admirers; "he hired someone to answer his fan mail"
hate mail - mail that expresses the writer's dislike or hatred (usually in offensive language)
mailing - mail sent by a sender at one time; "the candidate sent out three large mailings"
5.mail - (Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal ringsmail - (Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings
body armor, body armour, cataphract, coat of mail, suit of armor, suit of armour - armor that protects the wearer's whole body
brigandine - a medieval coat of chain mail consisting of metal rings sewn onto leather or cloth
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
Verb1.mail - send via the postal servicemail - send via the postal service; "I'll mail you the check tomorrow"
pouch - send by special mail that goes through diplomatic channels
express - send by rapid transport or special messenger service; "She expressed the letter to Florida"
airmail - send or transport by airmail; "Letters to Europe from the U.S. are best airmailed"
register - send by registered mail; "I'd like to register this letter"
express-mail - send by express mail or courier; "Express-mail the documents immediately"


1. letters, post, packages, parcels, correspondence She looked through the mail.
2. postal service, post, postal system Your cheque is in the mail.
1. post, send, forward, e-mail, dispatch, send by mail or post He mailed me the contract.
poštaposlat poštouposlat
poslati poštompošta
levélpostaposta: postára ad
우송하다우편우편물우편으로 보내다
paštaspaštininkaspašto maišassiųsti paštu
korespondencepastssūtīt pa pastu
poslati po poštipošta
bưu chínhgửi bưu điệngửi qua bưu điệnthư từ


1 [meɪl]
A. N
1. (= postal system) → correo m
by or through the mailpor correo
see also airmail
2. (= letters) → cartas fpl, correspondencia f
is there any mail for me?¿hay alguna carta para mí?
3. = e-mail
1. (esp US) (= post) → echar al correo; (= send by mail) → enviar por correo
2. = e-mail
C. CPD mail boat Nvapor m correo
mail bomb N (US) (= letter bomb) → carta f bomba; (= parcel bomb) → paquete m bomba
mail car N (US) (Rail) → furgón m postal, vagón m correo
mail carrier N (US) → cartero/a m/f
mail coach N (Hist) → diligencia f, coche m correo (Rail) → furgón m postal, vagón m correo
mail merge Ncombinación f de correspondencia
mail order N (= system) → venta f por correo; (= order) → pedido m por correo
see also mail-order mail room Nsala f de correo, departamento m de registro (de entradas y salidas)
mail train Ntren m correo
mail van N (Brit) (Aut) → camioneta f de correos (Rail) → furgón m postal, vagón m correo


2 [meɪl] N (Mil) → malla f, cota f de malla


(= postal service) → poste f
by mail → par la poste
to be in the mail → être au courrier
Your cheque is in the mail → Votre chèque est au courrier.
Your reply must have been lost in the mail
BUT Votre réponse a du se perdre dans le courrier.
(= letters) → courrier m
Here's your mail → Voici ton courrier.
(electronic)courriel m
(= send) [+ letter] → envoyer
(= send an email to) [+ person] → envoyer un courriel à


nPostsack m
nPostdampfer m
mail bomb
n (US) → Briefbombe f
(US) → Briefkasten m
(Comput) → Mailbox f, → (elektronischer) Briefkasten
n (US Rail) → Postwagen m
mail carrier
n (US) = mailman
n (Brit) (Hist) → Postkutsche f; (Rail) → Postwagen m
mail drop
n (US) → Briefeinwurf m (form), → Briefschlitz m
n (US)
(= machine)Adressiermaschine f; (for stamps) → Frankiermaschine f
(= advertisement)Postwurfsendung f
n (US) auf elektronischem Wege an ein Postamt im Bezirk des Empfängers übermittelte Nachricht, die dann als normale Briefsendung zugestellt wird


n (US) → Briefträger m, → Postbote m
mail merge
n (Comput) → Mailmerge nt, → Serienbrieferstellung f(mit automatischer Einfügung von Adressen); mail programDateimischprogramm nt
adjVersand-; mail catalogue (Brit) or catalog (US) → Versandhauskatalog m; mail firm, mail houseVersandhaus nt, → Versandgeschäft nt
n (esp US) → Poststelle f
mailshot (Brit)
nDirektwerbung f(per Post®); to send out a mailWerbebriefe verschicken
vtWerbebriefe verschicken an (+acc)
mail train
nPostzug m
mail van
n (on roads) → Postauto nt; (Brit Rail) → Postwagen m
n (US) → Briefträgerin f, → Postbotin f


Post® f; to send something by mailetw mit der Post® versenden or schicken; is there any mail for me?ist Post für mich da?
(= e-mail)E-Mail f
vtaufgeben; (= put in letter box)einwerfen; (= send by mail)mit der Post® schicken; (= send by e-mail)per E-Mail senden, mailen (inf); to mail somebodyjdm eine E-Mail senden


n (Mil) → Kettenpanzer m
vt the mailed fist of imperialismdie gepanzerte Faust des Imperialismus


1. nposta
by mail → per posta
2. vtspedire (per posta), inviare (per posta)


(meil) noun
letters, parcels etc by post. His secretary opens his mail.
to send by post.
ˈmailbag noun
a bag for letters etc. The letters are put into mailbags and sent to London by train.
ˈmailbox noun
a postbox.
ˈmailman (-mӕn) noun
(American) a postman.


بَرِيْدٌ, نِظَامٌ بَرِيدِيّ, يُرْسِلُ بِالْبَرِيْدِ, يُرسِلُ بِالبَرِيد poslat, poslat poštou, pošta post, poste, sende Post, senden, versenden ταχυδρομείο, ταχυδρομική υπηρεσία, ταχυδρομώ correo, echar al correo, mandar por correo posti, postittaa courrier, poste, poster poslati poštom, pošta affigere, posta, spedire 郵便, 郵送する 우송하다, 우편, 우편물, 우편으로 보내다 post, posten post, poste, postlegge poczta, wysłać, wysłać pocztą correio, correios, correspondência, enviar pelo correio, postar посылать по почте, почта, почтовая служба post, posta ไปรษณีย์, จดหมาย, ส่งจดหมาย posta, postalamak bưu chính, gửi bưu điện, gửi qua bưu điện, thư từ 邮件, 邮寄


n. correo, correspondencia;
to ___ a letterechar una carta al ___.
References in classic literature ?
I had never heard the postmaster say anything but `Only papers, to-day,' or, `I've got a sackful of mail for ye,' until this afternoon.
The final answer was to be at the office on "Monday, the twentieth": the correspondents in China were to be written to by the mail on that day; and Frank was to follow the letter by the next opportunity, or to resign his chance in favor of some more enterprising young man.
How the breaking-up day changed its place fast, at last, from the week after next to next week, this week, the day after tomorrow, tomorrow, today, tonight - when I was inside the Yarmouth mail, and going home.