message noun ⇨message (get a message across)⇨letter (leave a message for sb)
message
noun
message ♦︎ content ♦︎ substance ♦︎ subject matter ♦︎ the thrust ♦︎ thread ♦︎ gistThese are all words for the main or general meaning of a piece of writing, a speech or a conversation.这些词均表示文字作品、讲话或谈话的要点、主旨、大意。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆the main message / content / substance / subject matter / thrust / thread of sth◆the general message / content / thrust / gist of sth◆(a) common message / content / thread◆to convey a message / the gist◆to get / understand the message / gist of sth◆to follow the thread / gist of sth◆to lack content / substance■message [countable, usually singular] an important moral, social or political idea that a book, speech, campaign or work of art is trying to communicate（书、演讲、运动或艺术作品的）要旨，要点，要义◆This is a film with a strong religious message.这是一部有强烈的宗教意味的影片。◆The campaign is trying to get the message across to young people that drugs are dangerous.这场运动旨在让年轻人懂得毒品的危害。■content / /ˈkɒntent; NAmEˈkɑːntent/ [singular, uncountable] (ratherformal, especiallywritten) the ideas or information contained in a book, speech or programme of study（书、演讲或课程的）主题，主要内容◆Your tone of voice is as important as the content of what you have to say.你讲话的口吻和你要讲的内容同样重要。◆Her poetry has a good deal of political content.她的诗歌含有大量政治内容。■substance [uncountable] (ratherformal) the most important ideas in a book, speech, plan or political programme（书、演讲、计划或政治方案的）主旨，要点，基本内容◆I agree with what he said in substance, though not with every detail.对于他所说的，虽然不是每个细节我都同意，但基本内容却是赞同的。◆The party's manifesto is good on style but lacks real substance.该党的宣言文风优雅，但缺乏实质内容。■ˈsubject matter [uncountable] (ratherformal) the main topic or idea discussed or represented in a book, speech or work of art（书、演讲或艺术作品的）主题，题材，主要内容◆She's searching for subject matter for her new book.她要写一本新书，正在寻找题材。◆The artist was revolutionary in both subject matter and technique.这位画家在题材和手法两方面都有重大创新。 see also subject ⇨ subjectNOTE辨析 Content, substance or subject matter?Content is all the ideas and information that are included in sth; it is used especially to talk about written texts, speeches and programmes of study. The substance of sth is the main ideas, without the details: it suggests sth important or worth considering; if sth contains nothing important or worth considering you can say that it lacks substance. The subject matter of sth is the main theme, before it has been given a particular treatment by a writer or artist; it is used especially to talk about books and works of art. * content指所包含的全部观点和信息，尤指文字作品、演讲和课程的内容。substance指主旨、要点，不包括细节，暗指重要或值得考虑的东西；lack substance指某事物中不包含任何重要或值得考虑的东西。subject matter指作家或艺术家在做艺术上的特别处理之前的主题、题材，尤用于谈论书籍和艺术作品。■the thrust [singular] (ratherformal) the main point of an argument or policy（论证或政策的）要点，要旨，重点◆The thrust of his argument was that change was needed.他的论证要点是变革是必要的。◆She explained the broad thrust of the party's policies.她阐明了该党政策的大体要旨。ⓘ Thrust is used to talk about the main points in sb's argument or proposal, or in a strategy, an initiative, a plan or a policy proposed by an organization such as the government. * thrust指某人的argument或proposal的要点，或是由政府等机构提出的strategy、initiative、plan或policy的要点、要旨。■thread [countable] an idea or feature that is part of sth greater; an idea that connects the different parts of sth线索；脉络；思路；贯穿的主线◆A common thread runs through these discussions.这些讨论贯穿着一条共同的主线。◆The author skilfully draws together the different threads of the plot.作者娴熟地把各种情节线索串在一起。◆I lost the thread of the argument(= I could no longer follow it).我跟不上论证的思路了。ⓘ People talk about a central/main/common/connecting thread in an argument or story. You might try to follow/keep the thread of an argument or a writer might draw together/pick up/pull together the threads of a story. * central/main/common/connecting thread指论证或故事的主线，follow/keep the thread指跟上论证的思路，draw together/pick up/pull together the threads指作者将故事的线索串起来。■gist /dʒɪst/ / [singular, uncountable] (especiallyspoken) the general meaning of what sb says or writes要点；主旨；大意◆Just try to get(= understand) the gist of the argument.要尽量抓住辩论的主旨。◆I'm afraid I don't quite follow your gist(= what you really mean).对不起，我还不太明白你的意思。◆Students are taught the skill of reading for gist.学生学了阅读抓住要点的技巧。
letter
noun
letter ♦︎ message ♦︎ email ♦︎ mail ♦︎ note ♦︎ memo ♦︎ fax ♦︎ text ♦︎ post ♦︎ communication ♦︎ correspondenceThese words all mean sth that you write and send to sb in order to communicate with them.这些词均表示信函、邮件。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a letter / a message / an email / mail / a note / a memo / a fax / a text / post / a communication / correspondence from / to sb◆(a) personal / private letter / message / email / mail / note / communication / correspondence◆a brief letter / message / email / note / memo / communication◆(a) business letter / email / mail / memo / correspondence◆a thank-you letter / message / email / note◆to send / receive a letter / a message / an email / mail / a note / a memo / a fax / a text / post / a communication / correspondence◆to write a letter / a message / an email / a note / a memo◆to open a letter / a message / an email / the mail / the post◆a letter / a message / an email / the mail / a fax / the post arrives■letter [countable] a piece of text that you write on paper and send to sb, usually in an addressed envelope, in order to tell them sth信；函◆You should include a covering letter with your CV.寄简历时应该附上求职信。◆They wrote a letter of complaint to the television network.他们给电视台写了一封投诉信。◆You will be notified by letter.你将会收到信函通知。◆ (BrE) to post a letter寄信◆ (NAmE) to mail a letter寄信■message [countable] a short piece of written or spoken information that you give to sb when you cannot speak to them directly（书面或口头的）信息，消息，音信◆I left a message on her answering machine.我在她的电话答录机上留言了。◆Victoria's not here at the moment. Can I take a message?维多利亚这会儿不在，要我给你传个话吗？◆The computer displays an error message when I try to run the program.我试着运行该程序时，电脑出现错误信息提示。■email ( e-mail) [countable, uncountable] a written message that you send from your computer to another person's computer over a network such as the Internet电子邮件；电邮◆I got an email from Andrew last week.我上周收到安德鲁的一封电子邮件。◆I have to check my email.我得查收一下电子邮件。▸email ( e-mail)
verb
[transitive] ◆David emailed me yesterday.戴维昨天给我发了电子邮件。◆I'll email the documents to her.我将用电邮把这些文件发给她。■mail [uncountable] the letters and packages which are sent and delivered by the postal system; messages that are sent or received on a computer邮件；信件；邮包；电子邮件◆There isn't much mail today.今天邮件不多。◆Is there a letter from them in the mail?邮包里有他们的来信吗？◆You've got mail.有你的信件。ⓘ In British English post is often used instead of mail to mean the letters and packages that sb sends and receives.在英式英语中，常用post而非mail来表示收发的信件和邮包。 see also mail ⇨ sendverb1■note [countable] a short informal letter短笺；便条◆Just a quick note to say thank you for a wonderful evening.仅以此短笺感谢您让我度过了一个美好夜晚。◆I left a note for Judith on her desk.我在朱迪丝的书桌上留了个便条。◆It is suspicious that he did not leave a suicide note.他没有留下遗书，这一点很可疑。■memo / /ˈmeməʊ; NAmEˈmemoʊ/ ( formalmemorandum /ˌmeməˈrændəm/ / ) (pluralmemoranda / /ˌmeməˈrændə/ / ) [countable] an official note from one person to another in the same organization备忘录◆The confidential memo was leaked to the press.那份机密备忘录被人泄露给了媒体。■fax [uncountable, countable] a system for sending documents in electronic form along telephone wires, using a special machine that sends, receives and prints the documents; a document sent by fax传真（系统）；传真文件◆a fax machine传真机◆Can you send it to me by fax?你能把它传真给我吗？◆What is your fax number?你的传真号码是多少？◆Did you get my fax?你收到我的传真了吗？▸fax
verb
[transitive] ◆Can you fax me the latest version?你能把最新版本传真给我吗？◆Can you fax it to me?你能把它传真给我吗？■text ( ˈtext message) [countable] a written message that you send using a mobile phone（手机）短信；短讯；简讯◆Send a text to this number to vote.请发短信到此号码参加投票。▸text ( ˈtext-message)
verb
[transitive] ◆I texted him to say we were waiting at the hotel.我发短信告诉他我们在酒店等候。■post [uncountable] (BrE) mail邮件；信件；邮包◆The book arrived in the morning post.这本书是上午邮递送来的。 see also post ⇨ sendverb1■communication [countable] (formal) a message, letter or telephone call信息；书信；电话◆If you no longer wish to receive communications from us, follow the instructions at the bottom of the email.如果你不想再收到我们的信息，请按照电邮底部的说明去做。 see also communication ⇨ communication, communicate ⇨ convey, communicate ⇨ talk■correspondence [uncountable] (ratherformal) the letters a person sends and receives来往信件；往来书信◆The editor welcomes correspondence from readers on any subject.编辑欢迎读者就任何问题来信。◆the correspondence column / page(= in a newspaper)读者来信专栏 see also correspondence ⇨ communication