Post has 36 different meanings across 4 categories:
Noun · Verb · Prep · Proper Noun
military installation at which a body of troops is stationed
"this military post provides an important source of income for the town nearby"
"there is an officer's club on the post"
an upright consisting of a piece of timber or metal fixed firmly in an upright position
"he set a row of posts in the ground and strung barbwire between them"
United States aviator who in 1933 made the first solo flight around the world (1899-1935)
"The museum exhibit features a model of Post, the pioneering aviator who completed the first solo circumnavigation of the globe."
United States female author who wrote a book and a syndicated newspaper column on etiquette (1872-1960)
"The historical society dedicated their new exhibit to the life of Emily Post, highlighting her influential guidebook on social manners."
United States manufacturer of breakfast cereals and Postum (1854-1914)
"The historical marker at the old factory site explains that Post was a US manufacturer of breakfast cereals and Postum active from 1854 to 1914."
the system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office
"the mail handles billions of items every day"
"he works for the United States mail service"
"in England they call mail `the post'"
the delivery and collection of letters and packages
"it came by the first post"
"if you hurry you'll catch the post"
A long dowel or plank protruding from the ground; a fencepost; a lightpost.
"The developer chose to use the POST method because they needed to submit a large file containing sensitive user information securely to the web server."
Each of a series of men stationed at specific places along a postroad, with responsibility for relaying letters and dispatches of the monarch (and later others) along the route.
An assigned station; a guard post.
Post-production.
A post mortem (investigation of body's cause of death).
An HTTP request method used to send an arbitrary amount of data to a web server.
In plain English: A post is a vertical stick or pole used to support something or mark a spot.
"She posted a photo of her new puppy on social media."
Usage: Use "post" as a noun to refer to a public entry or message created on a social media site or forum for others to read and comment on. Do not use this term to describe the technical HTTP request method when speaking in everyday conversation.
display, as of records in sports games
"The scoreboard was updated to post a new high score after the final buzzer."
enter on a public list
"She decided to post her job opening on the company's career board so more candidates could apply."
ride Western style and bob up and down in the saddle in rhythm with a horse's trotting gait
"The cowboy postured his way to the finish line, bouncing gently in the saddle as he matched his stride to the horse's steady trot."
To hang (a notice) in a conspicuous manner for general review.
"The technician confirmed that the new server had posted after installing the latest firmware update."
To travel with relays of horses; to travel by post horses, originally as a courier.
To enter (a name) on a list, as for service, promotion, etc.
To successfully perform a power-on self-test
In plain English: To post something means to share it online so other people can see it.
"I will post my photos online later today."
Usage: When used in everyday conversation, to post means to publish content online or display something publicly, not to run a technical hardware test. Reserve the specific definition of performing a power-on self-test for formal computing contexts involving system diagnostics.
With the post, on post-horses; by a relay of horses (changing at every staging-post); hence, express, with speed, quickly.
"The urgent telegram was sent out via post to reach the distant capital before the storm arrived."
In plain English: Post means after, used to show something happens later than another event.
"Please post your application before the deadline."
Usage: Do not use "post" as an adverb in modern English, as this archaic meaning referring to rapid travel via relay horses is obsolete. Instead, use clear adverbs like "quickly" or "expressly" to convey speed.
After; especially after a significant event that has long-term ramifications.
"The community remained silent for days before finally posting about the tragedy in their newsletter to mark its lasting impact on the neighborhood."
A surname.
"My neighbor, Mr. Post, is going to host a barbecue on Saturday."
The word post comes from the Latin postis, meaning a pillar or door-post, which passed into Old English before entering modern usage. It originally referred to physical structures like columns rather than its current meanings related to mail or time.