letterbox
letterbox — noun
- letterboxsingular
- letterboxesplural
1. a narrow rectangular opening cut into a front door or an outside wall, with a fl
a narrow rectangular opening cut into a front door or an outside wall, with a flap on the inside, through which letters, bills, and small parcels are delivered into a home or building
Every morning, Rohan checks the letterbox to see if the post has arrived.
collocation: check the letterbox
The postman pushed the parcel through the letterbox, and it landed on the hallway mat.
collocation: through the letterbox
Nala's flat has a brass letterbox with a small brush that keeps out the cold air.
Tunde fitted a new brass letterbox onto the front door to replace the rusty old one.
文法句型
the letterbox
through the letterbox
letterbox + noun (letterbox flap)
用法筆記
In British English, letterbox is the usual word for the mail slot in a door. In American English, the more common word is mail slot.
常見錯誤
2. a large metal container, often painted red, that stands on a pavement or in a pu
a large metal container, often painted red, that stands on a pavement or in a public area and has a slot through which people post letters for the postal service to collect and send on
Rodrigo dropped the birthday card into the red letterbox on his way to work.
collocation: drop something into the letterbox
Anong checked the collection time on the letterbox before posting her birthday card to Canada.
Yael walked ten minutes to the letterbox to post her university application before the deadline.
Boris posted his tax return in the letterbox outside the town hall just before the final collection.
- post box
common alternative name in British English
- pillar box
used for the tall, cylindrical type, especially in the UK
- mailbox
American English equivalent
文法句型
a letterbox
the letterbox
post something in a letterbox
用法筆記
Also called a post box or pillar box in formal contexts. In American English, the equivalent is called a mailbox. Do not confuse with sense 1 (the mail slot in a door).
3. a display method in which a widescreen image appears on a standard screen with b
a display method in which a widescreen image appears on a standard screen with black bars above and below it, keeping the film's original wide shape without cutting off the sides
The 1960s film was broadcast in letterbox so that the picture kept its original wide shape.
pattern: in letterbox
Marta prefers watching action movies in letterbox format because nothing is cut off from the sides.
collocation: letterbox format
On Daichi's monitor, the documentary plays in letterbox format with two black bars above and below the main picture.
Paloma switched the video setting to letterbox so the subtitles did not cover the actors' faces.
- widescreen format
broader term that includes other methods of showing wide images
- fullscreen
fills the whole screen by cropping the sides
- pan-and-scan
crops and moves the image to fit the screen
文法句型
in letterbox
letterbox format
用法筆記
Frequently used as an uncountable noun (in letterbox) to describe the display mode. The opposite of letterbox is fullscreen or pan-and-scan, where the sides of the image are cut off.
常見錯誤
letterbox — verb
- letterboxpresent simple I / you / we / they
- letterboxes3rd person singular
- letterboxing-ing form
- letterboxedpast simple
1. to show a widescreen film or video on a standard screen by adding black bars abo
to show a widescreen film or video on a standard screen by adding black bars above and below the picture, so the original wide shape is kept without cropping the sides
The streaming service letterboxes older television shows to fit modern screens without cutting the edges.
subject: streaming service / platform
When Caleb plays a classic film on his laptop, the software automatically letterboxes the picture.
pattern: automatically letterboxes
The channel letterboxed the widescreen broadcast so that viewers with old televisions could see the full image.
Old episodes of the show were letterboxed for the DVD release to preserve the original camera frame.
- format in widescreen
broader phrasing that may also refer to other methods
文法句型
letterbox + noun (image/film/video)
be letterboxed
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice (be letterboxed) when describing how content was presented. The active form (letterbox + object) is less common but found in technical descriptions of video software.
常見錯誤
letterbox — phrase
1. a container positioned outside a house, either on a post near the road or attach
a container positioned outside a house, either on a post near the road or attached to an outer wall, where the postal worker leaves delivered letters and packages and where residents can put outgoing mail for collection
Linh checked the letterbox at the end of the driveway and found a postcard from her cousin in Mexico.
collocation: check the letterbox
Felipe painted the wooden letterbox red so the delivery driver could spot it easily from the road.
When it snowed heavily, Roya had to clear a path to the letterbox so the mail carrier could reach it.
The old letterbox beside the gate had rusty hinges, but Sumin still used it every day to post bills.
- mailbox
more common term in American English for a roadside container
文法句型
a letterbox
the letterbox
put something in the letterbox
用法筆記
Primarily used in American English. In British English, this kind of container is usually called a mailbox, while letterbox refers to the slot in the front door (sense 1).
2. a container provided by the postal service in a public place, such as on a stree
a container provided by the postal service in a public place, such as on a street corner or outside a shop, where people can drop off letters and small parcels to be collected and delivered to their destination
Sade dropped the wedding invitation into the blue letterbox on the corner of Elm Street.
collocation: drop something into the letterbox
Talia walked past three letterboxes before finding one with a working slot to post her package.
The blue letterbox outside the post office is emptied every afternoon at three o'clock.
Eliska always uses the letterbox near the library because it is closer than the one by the supermarket.
- mailbox
American English term; can refer to either a private or public mailbox
- collection box
more formal term used by the postal service
文法句型
a letterbox
the letterbox
drop something in the letterbox
用法筆記
Commonly used in American English for a public postal collection box. In British English, the equivalent is called a post box or pillar box. The distinction from the MAIL BOX sense is location: this one is public and shared, while sense 1 is private and attached to a home.
3. a small waterproof box hidden in an outdoor place, such as a woodland or park, w
a small waterproof box hidden in an outdoor place, such as a woodland or park, which holds a stamp and a notebook for people taking part in letterboxing to discover and sign
Selim found the letterbox under a pile of stones near the old oak tree by the riverbank.
collocation: find a letterbox
Min's hiking group placed a new letterbox near the waterfall and shared the clues online.
Ezra's map showed the location of seven letterboxes hidden along the coastal walking trail.
Each letterbox in the park holds a unique rubber stamp for collectors to mark their notebooks.
- letterboxing cache
more precise term used within the hobby community
文法句型
a letterbox
find a letterbox
hide a letterbox
用法筆記
This sense is specific to the hobby of letterboxing, which began on Dartmoor, England, and is similar to geocaching but uses stamps instead of traded trinkets. Unlike the postal senses, this has no connection to the mail service.