ˈmɪsɪv mark letters on or mark with letters set down or print with letters win an athletic letter a written message addressed to a person or organization mailed an indignant letter to the editor an award earned by participation in a school sport he won letters in three sports the conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech his grandmother taught him his letters a strictly literal interpretation (as distinct from the intention) he followed instructions to the letter he obeyed the letter of the law owner who lets another person use something (housing usually) for hire