post
post [post posts posted posting] noun, verb BrE [pəʊst] NAmE [poʊst]
noun
LETTERS
1. (BrE) (also mail NAmE, BrE)uncountable the official system used for sending and delivering letters, packages, etc
• I'll send the original to you by post.
• I'll put the information in the post to you tomorrow.
•My application got lost in the post.
2. (BrE) (also mail NAmE, BrE)uncountable letters, packages, etc. that are sent and delivered
• There was a lot of post this morning.
• Have you opened your post yet?
3. (BrE)uncountable, singular an occasion during the day when letters, etc. are collected or delivered
•to catch/miss the post
• The parcel came in this morning's post.
• Payment should be sent by return of post (= immediately).
•Do you get a second post here?
JOB
4. countable a job, especially an important one in a large organization
Syn: ↑position
•an academic/government post
•to take up a post
•to resign (from) a post
• We will be creating 15 new posts next year.
• The company has been unable to fill the post.
•He has held the post for three years.
•She was offered a key post in the new government.
5. (especially NAmE) (BrE usually posting)an act of sending sb to a particular place to do their job, especially for a limited period of time
•an overseas post
•The island is rated by diplomats as a hardship post (= one that people do not like to be sent to because it is not a very comfortable place to live).
FOR SOLDIER/GUARD
6. countable the place where sb, especially a soldier, does their job
•a police/customs/military post
•an observation post
• The guards were ordered not to leave their posts.
• Three soldiers were shot dead at a border post.
see also ↑last post, ↑staging post, ↑trading post
WOOD/METAL
7. countable (often in compounds)a piece of wood or metal that is set in the ground in a vertical position, especially to support sth or to mark a point
•corner posts (= that mark the corners of a sports field)
•The team's ‘net’ was a piece of string tied to two posts.
see also ↑bedpost, ↑gatepost, ↑lamp post, ↑signpost
END OF RACE
8. the postsingular the place where a race finishes, especially in horse racing
see also ↑first-past-the-post, ↑winning post
FOOTBALL
9. countable, usually singular = ↑goalpost
•The ball hit the post and bounced in.
INTERNET
10. (also post·ing)countable (computing)a message sent to a discussion group on the Internet; a piece of writing that forms part of a ↑blog
•The forum does not allow posts from non-members.
•a blog post
•I love reading her posts because I learn so much.
•She wrote a great post about the experience on her blog.
see deaf as a post at ↑deaf, be driven, pushed, etc. from pillar to post at ↑pillar
Word Origin:
n. senses 6 to 8 and v. senses 6 to 7 Old English Latin postis ‘doorpost’ ‘rod, beam’ Middle English Old French post ‘pillar, beam’ Middle Dutch Middle Low German post ‘doorpost’ n. senses 1 to 3 and v. senses 1 to 3
early 16th cent. French poste Italian posta Latin posita ponere ‘to place’ n. senses 4 to 5 and v. senses 4 to 5 mid 16th cent. French poste Italian posto popular Latin positum ponere ‘to place’
Culture:
postal services
Most letters and packages posted in Britain are dealt with by the ↑Royal Mail, which is part of the Royal Mail Group Ltd, together with Parcelforce, which delivers larger packages, and the ↑Post Office, which manages the country’s many post offices. As well as selling stamps, post offices take in letters and packages that are to be sent by special delivery. Post offices also sell vehicle licences and often greetings cards and stationery. In villages they are often combined with a newsagent’s and general store. In recent years, many smaller post offices have been closed because they do not make a profit, though this often led to protests from local people.
Mail (= letters, bills, etc.) is often called post in British English. When sending a letter, people can choose between two levels of service, first class or the cheaper second class. Normally, first-class mail is delivered the day after it is posted and second-class mail within two or three days. Every address in Britain includes a postcode of letters and numbers, for example OX1 2PX for an address in Oxford, that makes it possible to sort the post by machine. Letters are posted in red postboxes, also called letter boxes. Each has a sign giving times of collections. Postmen and women deliver mail each morning direct to homes and businesses. They put the mail through a flap in the door, which is also called a letter box. In the country they travel round in red vans, but in towns and villages they often ride bicycles.
The system that deals with mail in the US, the US Postal Service (USPS), is an independent part of the government. Its head is the Postmaster General. Mail carriers, sometimes called mailmen though many are women, deliver mail to homes and businesses once a day. Most homes have mailboxes fixed outside, near the door. It is very uncommon for a house to have a letter box in the door for letters. People whose houses are a long way from the road have a special rural mailbox by the road. This has a flag which the mail carrier raises so that the people in the house can see when they have mail. To mail (= send) a letter, people leave it on top of their own mailbox or put it in one of the many blue mailboxes in cities and towns. Every address in the US includes an abbreviation for the name of the state and a ZIP code, which is used to help sort the mail. Post offices sell stamps and deal with mail that has to be insured. Most cities have one post office which stays open late. Americans complain about the Postal Service, but it usually does an efficient job at a reasonable price.
In the US only Postal Service can deliver mail to letter boxes and the Service has a monopoly on first-class mail that is not urgent.In Britain the post office lost its monopoly on delivery of post in 2006. In both countries there are many companies who provide courier and messenger services for urgent mail. The largest of these include ↑FedEx and DHL. In Britain private companies may also deliver mail to letter boxes.
Thesaurus:
post noun
1. U (BrE)
•Have you opened your post yet?
mail • • letter • |formal correspondence •
post/mail/a letter/correspondence from/to sb
open the post/the mail/a letter
the post/the mail/a letter arrives
2. C
•The was a high roof supported by wooden posts.
pillar • • column • • support • • girder •
tall posts/pillars/columns
a/an iron/steel post/pillar/column/support/girder
a wooden post/pillar/column/support
a post/pillar/column/girder supports sth
British/American:
post / mail
Nouns
In BrE the official system used for sending and delivering letters, parcels/packages, etc. is usually called the post. In NAmE it is usually called the mail: ▪ I’ll put an application form in the post/mail for you today. ◇ ▪ Send your fee by post/mail to this address. Mail is sometimes used in BrE in such expressions as ▪ the Royal Mail. Post occurs in NAmE in such expressions as ▪ the US Postal Service.
In BrE post is also used to mean the letters, parcels/packages, etc. that are delivered to you. Mail is the usual word in NAmE and is sometimes also used in BrE: ▪ Was there any post/mail this morning? ◇ ▪ I sat down to open my post/mail. Verbs
Compare: ▪ I’ll post the letter when I go out. (BrE) and ▪ I’ll mail the letter when I go out. (NAmE)Compounds
Note these words: postman (BrE), mailman/mail carrier (both NAmE); postbox (BrE), mailbox (NAmE) Some compounds are used in both BrE and NAmE: post office, postcard, mail order.
Synonyms:
job
position • post • vacancy • appointment
These are all words for a position doing work for which you receive regular payment.
job • a position doing work for which you receive regular payment: ▪ He's trying to get a job in a bank.
position • (rather formal) a job: ▪ a senior position in a large corporation
job or position?
Position usually refers to a particular job within an organization, especially at a high level, and is not usually used about about jobs generally. It is also often used in job applications, descriptions and advertisements.
post • a job, especially an important one in a large organization: ▪ a key post in the new government
vacancy • a job that is available for sb to do: ▪ We have several vacancies for casual workers.
appointment • (rather formal, especially BrE) a job or position of responsibility: ▪ This is a permanent appointment, requiring commitment and hard work.
a permanent/temporary job/position/post/vacancy/appointment
a full-time/part-time job/position/post/vacancy/appointment
to have/have got a(n) job/position/post/vacancy/appointment
to apply for/fill a job/position/post/vacancy
to resign from/leave/quit a job/position/post
Example Bank:
•He steered a shot between the goalkeeper and the near post.
•He took up a teaching post at Basle University.
•He was dismissed from his post when he was found to have accepted bribes.
•I sent it by first-class post.
•I want to apologize for not making a post on Friday.
•If you hurry you'll just catch the last post.
•More info can be found in my first post on the subject.
•My application for the job is in the post.
•Orders will be sent by return of post.
•Seth made a blog post titled ‘Rules of Engagement’.
•She applied for the new post of training officer.
•She arrived at the office early and checked her post.
•She led for most of the way before being pipped at the post.
•The first horse past the post wins the race.
•The guard took up his post at the gate.
•The gun crew were at their posts.
•The sentries had deserted their posts.
•To respond to your comments, please see my previous post.
•He has held the post for five years.
•He was first past the winning post.
•Ideally I'm looking for an academic post.
•She tied the dog to a post.
•She's due to take up the post next month.
•The book arrived in the morning post.
•The car skidded and hit a lamp post.
•The team's ‘net’ was a piece of string tied to two posts.
•Three company directors have resigned (from) their posts.
•We have been unable to fill the post.
•a Cabinet post
•corner posts
Idiom: ↑keep somebody posted
verb
LETTERS
1. (BrE) (NAmE mail)transitive to send a letter, etc. to sb by post/mail
•~ sth (off) (to sb) Have you posted off your order yet?
• Is it OK if I post the cheque to you next week?
•~ sb sth Is it OK if I post you the cheque next week?
compare ↑mail
2. (BrE) (NAmE mail)transitive ~ sth to put a letter, etc. into a ↑postbox
• Could you post this letter for me?
STH THROUGH HOLE
3. transitive ~ sth + adv./prep. to put sth through a hole into a container
• Let yourself out and post the keys through the letter box.
SB FOR JOB
4. transitive, usually passive ~ sb + adv./prep. to send sb to a place for a period of time as part of their job
•She's been posted to Washington for two years.
•Most of our employees get posted abroad at some stage.
SOLDIER/GUARD
5. transitive ~ sb + adv./prep. to put sb, especially a soldier, in a particular place so that they can guard a building or area
•Guards have been posted along the border.
•A police officer was posted outside the door to make sure the suspect didn't leave the building.
PUBLIC NOTICE
6. transitive, often passive ~ sth + adv./prep. to put a notice, etc. in a public place so that people can see it
Syn: ↑display
•A copy of the letter was posted on the noticeboard.
GIVE INFORMATION
7. transitive (especially NAmE)to announce sth publicly or officially, especially financial information or a warning
•~ sth The company posted a $1.1 billion loss.
•A snow warning was posted for Ohio.
•~ sb/sth + adj. The aircraft and its crew were posted missing.
8. transitive, intransitive to put information or pictures on a website
•~ sth (on sth) The results will be posted on the Internet.
•~ (on sth) The photos have been provided by fans who post on the message board.
•I've been posting now and again at ‘British Moneymaker’.
PAY MONEY TO COURT
9. transitive ~ bail/(a) bond (especially NAmE)to pay money to a court so that a person accused of a crime can go free until their trial
•She was released after posting $100 cash bond and her driver's license.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
n. senses 6 to 8 and v. senses 6 to 7 Old English Latin postis ‘doorpost’ ‘rod, beam’ Middle English Old French post ‘pillar, beam’ Middle Dutch Middle Low German post ‘doorpost’ n. senses 1 to 3 and v. senses 1 to 3
early 16th cent. French poste Italian posta Latin posita ponere ‘to place’ n. senses 4 to 5 and v. senses 4 to 5 mid 16th cent. French poste Italian posto popular Latin positum ponere ‘to place’
Thesaurus:
post verb T (BrE)
•Could you post this letter for me?
send • • forward • |especially AmE mail • |formal, especially business dispatch •
post/send/forward/mail/dispatch sth to sb
post/send/forward/mail/dispatch a letter/document
post/send/mail a/an invitation/package/parcel/postcard/reply
Example Bank:
•Balden was later posted to Luqa as station commander.
•I should get this letter posted off this afternoon.
•I'll post the information to you.
•I'm hoping to be posted abroad.
•A police officer was posted outside the door to make sure the suspect didn't leave the building.
•Most employees get posted abroad at some stage.
•She's been posted to Washington for two years.
See also: ↑mail ▪ ↑posting
|
|
