Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
maidenhead
maidenhood
maidenly
maidservant
Maidstone
Maiduguri
maieutic
maigre
mail (1)
mail (2)
mail bomb
mail carrier
mail form
mail merge
mail order
mail-out
mail server
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "mail" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

mail (1)

mail [ mayl ]


noun  (plural mails)
Definition:
 
1. items sent: the letters, cards, periodicals, and packages that are handled and distributed in a postal system
Is there any mail for me?

2. postal system: the system that handles the collection and delivery of mail ( often used before a noun )
send it by mail

3. specific mail collection or delivery: a particular collection or delivery of letters, cards, periodicals, and packages
It came in yesterday's mail.

4. vehicle delivering mail: a car, train, ship, aircraft, or other vehicle used to collect and deliver mail

5.  ( informal )
Same as  e-mail




transitive verb  (past and past participle mailed, present participle mail·ing, 3rd person present singular mails)
Definition:
 
1. North America send something by mail: to send a letter, card, periodical, or package by mail

2. e-mail somebody: to send somebody a message by e-mail

[13th century. < Old French male "bag, trunk" < Germanic, "bag, wallet"]

mail·a·ble adjective
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
MSN Shopping
Upgrade your Encarta experience
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft