mail Definition

mail¹
noun

1. The postal system.

Example: sent it through the mail
Example: came by hand not by mail
2. Letters, parcels, etc sent by post.

Example: Collect your mail from the office
Thesaurus: letters, post, communication, correspondence, parcels.
3. A single collection or delivery of letters, etc.

Example: Has the mail arrived yet?
4. A vehicle carrying letters, etc.

Form: mail train (also)
Form: mail van
5. Used for, or relating to mail. See also electronic mail.

Example: mail room
Example: mail delivery

verb

(especially N Amer)
mailed, mailing
1. To send (a letter, parcel, etc) by post. Also (chiefly Brit) called post in all senses.

Thesaurus: send, post, dispatch, forward.

Etymology: 13c in old sense ‘bag or wallet': from French male, from German malha a sack.

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mail²
noun

1. Flexible armour for the body, made of small linked metal rings. Also called chainmail.
2. The protective covering of an animal such as the turtle.

Derivative: mailed
adj

Etymology: 14c in obsolete sense ‘a small metal ring or plate' from which such armour was made: from French maille a mesh, from Latin macula a spot or mesh.