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Added 9 October 2026

email

/ˈiːmeɪl/ noun

Categories: LanguageUncommon Words

First recorded: 1970 Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about email at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A system for transmiting and receiving messages and datas by means of a computer network, primarily the Internet, using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and the Internet Message Format.
    He sent me his details via email.
  2. The quantity of messages sent through an email system.
    I am searching through my old email.
  3. A message being sent through email.
    He sent me an email last week to remind me about the meeting.

verb

  1. To send an email (etymology 1, noun sense 3) or emails to.
    She emailed me last week, asking about the status of the project.
  2. To send an email or emails.
    Most teenagers seem to spend almost the whole day emailing and surfing the Web.
  3. To send (data) through email.
    I’ll email you the link.

noun

  1. Enamel (“an opaque, glossy coating”).

Origin

The noun is an abbreviation of electronic mail. First attested in the 1970s. The verb is derived from the noun, by analogy with mail (“to send through the mail”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: netmaile-mailposturlinboxmessagetelefaxmailingmailspostalcourier

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