| letter | |
| 1. n. A symbol in an alphabet. | |
| There are twenty-six letters in the English alphabet. | |
| 2. n. A written or printed communication, generally longer and more formal than a note. | |
| I wrote a letter to my sister about my life. | |
| 3. n. The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (often contrasted with the spirit). | |
| 4. n. (plural) Literature. | |
| Benjamin Franklin was multiskilled – a scientist, politician and a man of letters. | |
| 5. n. (law) A division unit of a piece of law marked by a letter of the alphabet. | |
| Letter (b) constitutes an exception to this provision. | |
| 6. n. (US) A size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm, US paper sizes rounded to the nearest 5 mm). | |
| 7. n. (Canada) A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm. | |
| 8. n. (US, scholastic) (clipping of varsity letter) | |
| 9. n. (printing, dated) A single type; type, collectively; a style of type. | |
| 10. v. To print, inscribe, or paint letters on something. | |
| 11. v. (intransitive, US, scholastic) To earn a varsity letter (award). | |
| 12. n. One who lets, or lets out. | |
| the letter of a room | |
| a blood-letter | |
| 13. n. (archaic) One who retards or hinders. | |
