LETTERBOX Definition & Meaning

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letterbox

[ let-er-boks ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Also letter box. Chiefly British. a public or private mailbox.
Digital Technology, Television. a technique for displaying a wide-screen film or landscape video on a narrower screen by reducing its size but retaining the aspect ratio, with black bands filling the screen above and below the picture (often used attributively): Compare pan and scan, pillarbox ( def 1 ).
letterbox videos.

verb (used with object)

Digital Technology, Television. to display (a film or video) by using the letterbox technique.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of letterbox¹

First recorded in 1765–75; letter ¹( def ) + box ¹( def )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"I know we had petrol through the letterbox on more than one occasion," said Ms McKay, who at the time was studying for her A-levels whilst living at the family's home in Wrexham.

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Neither mother opposed "letterbox contact" so Mr Albon can send an annual card or email to be retained for when the child is of an age to understand who it is from.

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The couple quickly found themselves £60,000 in debt, with bailiffs at the door and demands streaming through the letterbox.

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But when the then 24-year-old turned up at the flat on 2 October 1984, there was no answer and a "horrible smell" when he opened the letterbox.

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An accelerant had been poured over the door and through the letterbox.

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