**letter bomb** 798
usually in an envelope: *Could you post this letter for me when you go out?* I *I've had a letter from the tax inspector saying I owe him money.* I *I wrote her a letter last week, but I haven't received a reply yet.* I *the ‘letters to the Editor’ column of the newspaper* I *Would you give me a letter of recommendation for my new employer?* **2** [C] any of the signs in writing or printing that represent a speech sound: *'B' is a capital letter; 'b' is a small letter.* **3** [(the)S] the words of an agreement, law, rule etc, rather than its real, intended, or general meaning: **Going by the (strict) letter of the law** *you could be charged with obstruction, but the police have agreed to overlook it.* $\rightarrow$ opposite **SPIRIT 4 to the letter:** **a)** with close attention to the written details of an agreement, law etc **b)** to the fullest degree; exactly: *You must follow my instructions to the letter.* $\rightarrow$ see also LETTERS, CHAIN LETTER, DEAD LETTER, OPEN LETTER, DEAR JOHN LETTER**'letter bomb** *n* a small bomb hidden in an envelope and sent by post to the person it is supposed to kill or harm. They are usually sent by TERRORIST or similar organizations to important people.**let·ter·box** /'letəbɒks||'letərbɑːks/ *especially BrE* || usually **mailbox** *AmE - n* **1** a narrow opening in a front door, or at the entrance to a building; a box for receiving things delivered, especially letters brought by the postman: *Another bill dropped through the letterbox.* CULTURAL NOTE Letterboxes are much more common in the UK than in the US, where most people have a MAILBOX instead. $\rightarrow$ see Cultural Note at MAILBOX
**2** a box in a post office, street etc, in which letters can be posted or delivered; POSTBOX**'letter ,carrier** *n AmE for* POSTMAN
**let·tered** /'letəd||-ərd/ *adj old-fash fml* (well) educated $\rightarrow$ opposite UNLETTERED
**let·ter·head** /'letəhed||-ər-/ also **let·ter·head·ing** /-ˌhedɪŋ/ *n* the name and address of a person or business printed at the top of a sheet of writing paper**let·ter·ing** /'letərɪŋ/ *n* [U] **1** the art of writing or drawing letters or words: *Lettering is this designer's speciality.* **2** written or drawn letters, especially of the stated style: *ornate old-fashioned lettering***Let·ter·man, David** /'letəmən||-tər-/ (1947-) a US COMEDIAN and television PRESENTER who has his own TALK SHOW (= a programme on which people are asked questions and talk about themselves). He is known for having unusual people on his show, and for having humorous parts of the show such as 'stupid pet tricks' and 'stupid human tricks'. $\rightarrow$ see colour photo on page A46**,letter of 'credit** *n* an official letter from a bank allowing a named person to take money from another bank, especially in a foreign country**'letter ,opener** *n AmE for* PAPER KNIFE
**,letter-'perfect** *adj AmE for* WORD-PERFECT
**let·ter·press** /'letəpres||-ər-/ *n* [U] a method of printing in which the words, pictures etc to be printed form a raised area on the printing machine**'letter-,quality** *adj* (of a printer, producing characters of a quality) good enough to be used in sending business letters
**let·ters** /'letəz||-ərz/ *n* [P] *fml or pomp* literature in general: *He was one of the foremost figures of/in English letters at the turn of the century.* $\rightarrow$ see also MAN OF LETTERS
**'letter-size** also **letter adj** *AmE* (of paper) having a size of 8½ by 11 inches: *Have this printed on letter-size sheets.***let·ting** /'letɪŋ/ *n especially BrE* a house or flat that is (to be) rented: *unfurnished lettings*
**let·tuce** /'letɪs/ *n* [C;U] a usually round vegetable with thin pale green leaves, used raw in SALADS $\rightarrow$ compare CABBAGE**let·up** /'letʌp/ *n* [C;U] (a) stopping or lessening of activity: *It rained for twelve hours without a letup.* $\rightarrow$ see also LET UP**leu·ke·mia** also **-kae-** *BrE* /luː'kiːmiə/ *n* [U] a serious disease (a kind of CANCER) in which the blood contains too many white cells, causing weakness and sometimes death**Le·vant, the** /lə'vænt/ an old name for the area of land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, including Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and parts of Turkey —**Levantine** /lə'væntaɪn/ *n, adj***lev·ee¹** /'levi/ *n especially AmE* a bank built to stop a river overflowing
**lev·ee²** /'levi, lə'veɪ/ *n old use* a meeting in which a ruler receives visits from important people
**lev·el¹** /'levəl/ *adj* **1** having a surface which is flat and smooth; not sloping; HORIZONTAL: *A football field needs to be level.* I *a level spoonful of sugar* **2** [F(with)] equal in height or standard: *The child's head is level with his father's knee.* I *The two teams finished level at ten points each.* **3** steady and unvarying: *He gave me a level look.* I *a calm level voice* **4 one's level best** *infml* one's best effort: *I did my level best (=tried as hard as possible) to help him.***level²** *n* **1** [C;U] a line or surface parallel to the ground; a position of height in relation to a flat surface: *The garden is arranged on two levels. (=it has two parts, one higher than the other)* I *an accident on level three of the mine* I *The top of this mountain is six kilometres above sea level.* I **an eye-level grill** (=equal with the height of a person's eyes) I (fig.) *The matter is being considered at ministerial level. (=by important politicians)* I (fig.) *high-level/top-level discussions* $\rightarrow$ see also WATER LEVEL **2** [C] a general standard of quality or quantity: *a high level of achievement* I *The level of your work is not satisfactory.* I *We must increase production levels.* I *High levels of radiation were found in the sea nearby.* **3** [C] also **levels** *pl. -* a smooth flat surface, especially a wide area of flat ground: *You should build on the level not on the slope.* I **the Somerset Levels** **4** [C] *especially AmE for* SPIRIT LEVEL **5 on the level** *infml* honest; truthful: *Is what you're telling me on the level?* I *Are you on the level?* $\rightarrow$ see also LEVEL WITH; A LEVEL; O LEVEL**level³** *v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE* [T] **1** [(OUT, OFF)] to make flat and even: *She levelled off the wet concrete with a piece of wood.* **2** to knock or pull down to the ground: *The bombing raid practically levelled the town.***level sthg. at sbdy./sthg.** *phr v* [T] **1** to aim (a weapon) at **2** [often pass.] also **level sthg. against sbdy./sthg.** - to bring (a charge) against: *Serious accusations have been levelled against the minister.***level off/out** *phr v* [I] to stop climbing higher or falling lower, and continue at a fixed height: *The plane levelled off at 30,000 feet.* I (fig.) *Inflation has begun to level off.* I (fig.) *We expect the differences in their educational attainment to gradually level out.***level with sbdy.** *phr v* [T] *infml* to speak freely and truthfully to; not hide facts from $\rightarrow$ see also ON THE LEVEL (LEVEL²)**level⁴** *adv* [(with)] so as to be level: *a missile that flies level with (=close to) the ground*
**,level 'crossing** *BrE ||* **,grade crossing** *AmE - n* a place where a road and a railway cross each other, usually protected by gates that shut off the road while a train passes**,level-'headed** *adj* apprech calm and sensible in making judgments
**lev·el·ler** *BrE ||* **-eler** *AmE* /'levələ/ *n especially old use* a member of a political group that wishes to get rid of all social differences**Lev·el·lers, the** /'levələz||-lərz/ *n* [P] a religious and political group in England in the 17th century, which began during the English CIVIL WAR, and demanded equal political rights and freedom of religion for everyone**,level 'pegging** *adv BrE* equal, neither ahead of nor behind a competitor: *It's level pegging between the two candidates, either of them could win.***,level 'playing-field** *n* [usually S] a situation in which no one has any unfair advantage: *If we know their secrets and they know ours, at least we're competing on a level playing-field.***le·ver¹** /'liːvə||'le-, 'liː-/ *n* **1** a bar or other strong tool used for lifting or moving something heavy or stiff. One end is placed under or against the object, the middle rests on a FULCRUM, and the other end is pushed down strongly: (fig.) *They used the threat of strike action as a lever (= a strong influence) to get the employers to agree to their demands.* **2** a bar or rod that is fixed to a machine at one end and is moved to work the machine; a handle: *Push the lever and the machine will start.* $\rightarrow$ see also GEAR LEVER
