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noun

letterbox

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Letterbox (noun) means a slot or box, typically at the front of a house, through which mail is delivered. Example: “He pushed the flyer through the letterbox.”

noun
1
A slot or box, typically at the front of a house, through which mail is delivered.
"He pushed the flyer through the letterbox."
2
A style of showing a widescreen film on a standard screen, with black bars above and below the picture.
"The DVD was released in letterbox format to preserve the original aspect ratio."

How to use letterbox

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA slot for mail (UK usage), or a widescreen film format with black bars top and bottom.

UK vs US

In British English, "letterbox" is the everyday word for what Americans usually call a "mail slot" or "mailbox."

Common pairings
post through the letterbox letterbox format
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Word forms

Plural
letterboxes
Third person singular
letterboxes
Past tense
letterboxed
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He pushed the flyer through the _____.

Etymology

A straightforward compound of "letter" and "box."

Rhymes for letterbox

See all rhymes for letterbox →

Frequently asked questions

What does “letterbox” mean?
The word “letterbox” means a slot or box, typically at the front of a house, through which mail is delivered. In plain terms, a slot for mail (UK usage), or a widescreen film format with black bars top and bottom.
How do you use “letterbox” in a sentence?
Here is “letterbox” used in a sentence: “He pushed the flyer through the letterbox.”
What part of speech is “letterbox”?
“Letterbox” is a noun.
How many meanings does “letterbox” have?
“Letterbox” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a slot or box, typically at the front of a house, through which mail is delivered.

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