letterbox
/ˈlɛtərˌbɑks/
noun
- A box or slot in a door or wall where mail is delivered.
- I checked the letterbox this morning but there were no letters.
- The postman slipped the package through the letterbox.
- They installed a new letterbox with a lock to keep mail safe.
- A format for displaying widescreen video on a standard screen, with black bars at the top and bottom.
- I prefer watching films in letterbox rather than having the sides cut off.
- The DVD offers both full-screen and letterbox options.
- The movie was presented in letterbox format to preserve the original wide screen view.
verb
- To display a widescreen video with black bars at the top and bottom of a standard screen.
- The editor chose to letterbox the footage to maintain the original aspect ratio.
- The streaming service will letterbox older TV shows to fit modern screens.
- If you don't want the image stretched, you can letterbox the video.