noun
greeting
GREE-ting/ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
A word or action used to welcome or acknowledge someone.
The visitor returns the woman's friendly greeting at the open door.
Etymology
The verb behind greeting once covered many kinds of contact, including approaching, touching, and even attacking. Its welcoming sense became central, and greeting names the act or expression of that welcome.
In context
please turn to your neighbor in exchange with mothers and fathers and children alike a warm greeting
More examples
- A cheerful greeting broke the awkward silence.
- We exchanged greetings before the meeting.
- His greeting made the newcomers feel welcome.
Forms
greeting · greetings
Similar words
- salutation
- A more formal spoken or written greeting.
- welcome
- Welcome specifically expresses gladness at someone's arrival.