<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>a written or printed communication addressed to a person or organization and usually transmitted by mail.</li><li>a symbol or character that is conventionally used in writing and printing to represent a speech sound and that is part of an alphabet.</li><li>a piece of printing type bearing such a symbol or character.</li><li>a particular style of type.</li><li>such types collectively.</li><li>Often letters.</li><li>a formal document granting a right or privilege.</li><li>actual terms or wording; literal meaning, as distinct from implied meaning or intent (spirit): the letter of the law.</li><li>letters, (used with a singular or plural verb) literature in general.</li><li>the profession of literature.</li><li>learning; knowledge, especially of literature.</li><li>an emblem consisting of the initial or monogram of a school, awarded to a student for extracurricular activity, especially in athletics.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) to mark or write with letters; inscribe: I picked up the crossword and lettered in P-E-A-R-L for the final clue.</li><li>(used without object) to earn a letter in an interscholastic or intercollegiate activity, especially a sport: He lettered in track at Harvard.</li></ul>