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What is the difference between message and letter?

message | letter |

As nouns the difference between message and letter

is that message is a communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed while letter is a symbol in an alphabet.

As verbs the difference between message and letter

is that message is to send a message to; to transmit a message to, e.g. as text via a cell phone while letter is to print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.

message

English

(message) (old-fashioned definitions)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed.
  • * Bible, Judges iii. 20
  • I have a message from God unto thee.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.}}
  • An underlying theme or conclusion to be drawn from something.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=55, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Travels and travails , passage=Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message : America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.}}

    Usage notes

    In Ireland, Scotland and Northern England, messages (plural) can mean "groceries, shopping".

    Derived terms

    * instant message * text message

    Abbreviations

    * msg

    Verb

  • To send a message to; to transmit a message to, as text via a cell phone.
  • Just message me for directions.
    I messaged her about the concert.
  • To send (something) as a message; usually refers to electronic messaging.
  • She messaged me the information yesterday.
    Please message the final report by fax.
  • To send a message or messages; to be capable of sending messages.
  • We've implemented a new messaging service.
    The runaway computer program was messaging non-stop.
  • (obsolete) To bear as a message.
  • Synonyms

    * (send a text message to)

    See also

    * instant message * instant messaging * messenger * mission ----

    letter

    English

    (wikipedia letter)

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) letter, lettre, from (etyl) letre, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A symbol in an alphabet.
  • * Bible, (w) xxiii. 38
  • And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew.
  • A written or printed communication, generally longer and more formal than a note.
  • * (1662-1708)
  • The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
  • , chapter=1 citation , passage=He read the letter aloud. Sophia listened with the studied air of one for whom, even in these days, a title possessed some surreptitious allurement.}}
  • *
  • *:An indulgent playmate, Grannie would lay aside the long scratchy-looking letter she was writing (heavily crossed ‘to save notepaper’) and enter into the delightful pastime of ‘a chicken from Mr Whiteley's’.
  • Literal meaning.
  • * (Jeremy Taylor) (1613–1677)
  • We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to the reason of the law and the intention of the lawgiver.
  • * (1809-1892)
  • I broke the letter of it to keep the sense.
  • * 2009 , 23 February, BBC, Euro MP expenses 'can reach £1m'
  • Some MEPs from some countries may have pocketed £2m more than I have by observing the letter but not the spirit of the rules.
  • (plural) Literature.
  • A size of paper, 8½ in]] × 11 in (215.9 [[millimetre, mm × 279.4 mm, US paper sizes rounded to the nearest 5 mm).
  • A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.
  • A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
  • * (John Evelyn) (1620-1706)
  • Under these buildingswas the king's printing house, and that famous letter so much esteemed.
    Synonyms
    * bookstave
    Hyponyms
    * epistle * missive
    Derived terms
    * accountant's letter * advisory letter * air letter * black letter * capital letter * chain letter * comfort letter * commercial letter of credit * cover letter * covering letter * crank letter * day letter * dead letter office * Dear John letter * deficiency letter * domincal letter * drop letter * encyclical letter * fan letter * form letter * four-letter/four-letter word * French letter * guarantee letter * investment letter * irrevocable letter of credit * letter blindness * letter bomb * letter bond * letter box * letter carrier * letter case * letter missive * letter of administration * letter of attorney * letter of comfort * letter of comment * letter of credence * letter of credit * letter of guarantee * letter of indemnity * letter of intent * Letter of Jeremiah * letter of marque * letter of motivation * letter of the law * letter opener * letter paper * letter perfect/letter-perfect * letter-quality * letter security * letter stock * letter telegram * letterform * letterhead * letterman * letterure * love letter * market letter * news letter/news-letter/newsletter * night letter * no-action letter * open letter * night letter * poison-pen letter * red letter * scarlet letter * sea letter * small letter * swash letter * to the letter * transmittal letter * varsity letter

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.
  • (intransitive, US, scholastic) To earn a varsity letter (award).
  • Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who lets, or lets out.
  • the letter of a room
    a blood-letter
  • (archaic) One who retards or hinders.
  • Statistics

    *