Mailbox
/ˈmeɪlbɒks/
Definitions
2 meaningsA receptacle, usually a box, for receiving mail.
/ˈmeɪlbɒks/
A container for receiving mail.
The house has a bright red mailbox.
💡 Simply: Think of it like your home's personal delivery spot! It's where the mailman puts your letters, postcards, and sometimes even small packages. Just like when you go check your secret hiding spot, you go check your mailbox for interesting letters.
👶 For kids: A box where the mail person puts your letters and packages.
More Examples
He walked to the end of the driveway to check the mailbox.
She found a birthday card in the mailbox.
Please check the mailbox for the letter I sent.
How It's Used
"The mail carrier delivered the package and put it in the mailbox."
"She checked her mailbox for the monthly bills."
An electronic storage space, used for receiving and storing digital messages.
/ˈmeɪlbɒks/
An electronic version, for receiving messages.
I sent the file to your mailbox.
💡 Simply: This is your online message center! Just like your home mailbox, it's where people send you emails and other digital messages. You get them by opening your email account. It's like getting letters, but online!
👶 For kids: A place on the computer where you get emails.
More Examples
Check your mailbox for important updates.
Her mailbox was full of spam messages.
The company's mailbox experienced an error.
How It's Used
"Check your digital mailbox for notifications."
"The server is having trouble connecting to the mailboxes."
Idioms & expressions
check the mailbox
To look inside a mailbox to see if mail has been delivered.
"I'm going to check the mailbox to see if the bills have arrived."
empty the mailbox
To remove all mail from the mailbox.
"Before you leave, please empty the mailbox so the mail doesn't pile up."
From "mail" (originally meaning bag or container for carrying) + "box". The word evolved with the postal system. Its early uses referred to mail receptacles at businesses or homes.
The term 'mailbox' gained common usage with the growth of the postal system in the 19th and 20th centuries. Early iterations were often more functional than aesthetically designed.