mailbox
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈeɪlbɒks/
US
- /ˈmeɪlˌbɑks/
Description
- A box for receiving letters
- a place where post is delivered
- a home post box
- an email message box
Imagine a little box standing outside a home or by the road. That is often where letters, bills, magazines, and small packages are delivered. It is a simple part of daily life, but it plays an important role in helping people receive news, messages, and official papers.
The word "mailbox" is also used in the digital world. In email, it can mean the place where your messages arrive and are stored. So whether it is made of metal by the street or shown on a screen, a mailbox is a place for receiving messages.
A mailbox is a container used for receiving postal mail. You often see one near the road, at the end of a driveway, or attached to a building. It is the place where letters, postcards, bills, magazines, and sometimes small packages are delivered. Many are made of metal or plastic, and they may have house numbers or other simple details on them.
The word is also used for digital communication. In email systems, a mailbox is the place where electronic messages are received and stored. People may talk about an email mailbox being full, empty, or checked, just as they talk about a physical one being full of letters.
In some situations, a mailbox can also be used for outgoing mail, depending on the postal system and the kind of box. Still, the main idea is usually the same: it is a set place for mail to arrive, wait, and be collected.
Because of that, the word suggests connection and exchange. It can describe something very ordinary outside a house, or a space inside a computer system where messages are kept. In both cases, a mailbox is a reliable point between sender and receiver.
So whether you picture a box by the street or a folder in an email service, the meaning stays close: a mailbox is a place where messages are delivered and held until someone reads or collects them.
Examples
- 1
Sending mail
I put the birthday card in the mailbox this morning.
- 2
Checking mail
Check the mailbox when you get home.
- 3
Package delivery
The package was too big for our mailbox, so the mail carrier left it on the porch.
- 4
Storm damage
After the storm, three mailboxes on our street were knocked over.
- 5
Email storage
My email bounced back because your mailbox is full.
Domain
in email, mailbox is full
no more messages can be received
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- mailboxnoun
Forms
- mailboxespluralnoun