Reading Theme:
Mail Meaning, Examples, and Common Usage (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：postal system (mail)
mail
/meɪl/
n.
The whole system for sending letters and packages.
postal system
➕
/ˈpoʊstəl ˈsɪstəm/
n.
The organized network for collecting, transporting, and delivering letters and packages to recipients.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old French 'male' meaning bag, referring to the bag used to carry letters.
💡 Mnemonic
Picture a 'mail' bag (male) being loaded onto a horse-drawn coach.
📖 Example
Before the internet, important news was often sent by mail and could take weeks to arrive.
Before the internet, important news was often sent by mail and could take weeks to arrive.
🔗 Collocations
by mail – via the postal system
mail service – the operation of delivering mail
mail carrier – a person who delivers mail
🔄 Synonyms
post (n.) – the official system for sending letters and packages
postal service (n.) – the system of mail delivery
🚫 Antonyms
email (n.) – electronic mail system
📖 Cultural Story
The term 'mail' originally referred to a travel bag. Its modern use for postal systems emerged in the 17th century with public mail coaches in England.
Meaning 2：received letters or packages (mail)
mail
/meɪl/
n.
The letters or packages that you send or receive through the postal system.
received letters or packages
➕
/rɪˈsiːvd ˈletərz ɔr ˈpækɪdʒɪz/
n.
The physical items such as letters, postcards, and parcels that are delivered to a person or address.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
I just collected the mail from the box and found a postcard from my friend traveling in Italy.
I just collected the mail from the box and found a postcard from my friend traveling in Italy.
🔗 Collocations
check the mail – look at the letters and packages received
open the mail – open and read the letters
junk mail – unsolicited advertising mail
🔄 Synonyms
correspondence (n.) – letters sent or received
post (n.) – mail sent by the postal system
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