salute
/səˈl(j)uːt
/noun
1A gesture of respect or polite recognition, especially one made to or by a person when arriving or departing: he raises his arms in a triumphant salute...
- I lifted my glass in salute to all my American friends, enjoying the big Thanksgiving meal, and thought with only a tinge of envy of the delights of roast turkey with all the trimmings.
- In a final mark of respect, a rescue helicopter circled low over the bay, dropped a wreath into the sea, and dipped its nose in salute to those on the headland.
- When the jet reached Manchester Airport, the aircraft's wings were tipped in salute to its new home before circling and touching down.
Synonyms
gesture of respect, greeting, salutation, address, hail, welcome, tribute, wave;
homage, obeisance, acknowledgement
1.1A prescribed movement, typically a raising of a hand to the head, made by a member of a military or similar force as a formal sign of respect or recognition: he stood to attention but did not return the salute he acknowledged the salute of the policeman on duty the public were taunted with Nazi salutes...
- A pair of Japanese soldiers stand at attention on either side of the canvas, their arms raised in a military salute.
- Upon his arrival in Finland, Svinhufvud met him at the dock with a military salute, dressed in the uniform of a sergeant-major.
- John Lucaks isn't happy with the recent tradition of American presidents returning salutes from uniformed military personnel.
1.2 [often with modifier] The discharge of a gun or guns as a formal or ceremonial sign of respect or celebration: a twenty-one-gun salute...
- Excitement still pervaded the air, which hummed with voices and the crackle and pop of logs in the fire like a twenty-one gun salute.
- She received a 21-gun salute during the welcoming ceremony at Merdeka Palace.
- Hu, who released a short statement outlining the goals of his visit, was given a 21-gun salute as part of an official welcoming ceremony, she said.
1.3 Fencing The formal performance of certain guards or other movements by fencers before engaging.The salute is a traditional and mandatory expression of courtesy and respect that is always rendered at the beginning and end of a fencing lesson, assault or bout....
- In order to execute the salute, raise your right arm level with your shoulder, the cutting edge of the blade always to the right.
verb [with object]
1Make a formal salute to: don’t you usually salute a superior officer? [no object]: he clicked his heels and saluted...
- I'm reminded of the famous essay by the semiotician Roland Barthes, who analysed an image of a black soldier saluting the French flag.
- I remember when the bonded labourers decided to salute the national flag for the first time, on Independence Day in 1983.
- True patriotism is more than saluting the flag and obeying the current administration.
1.1Greet: he saluted her with a smile...
- As we walked, I saw many men greeting or saluting us by kissing her forefinger and bringing it to their forehead.
- She waved cheerfully and Kyle saluted her right back.
- Players saluted supporters and the fans hailed their heroes who, at the third attempt in seven roller-coaster seasons, had managed to avoid instant relegation.
Synonyms
greet, address, hail, welcome, acknowledge, pay one's respects to, toast, make obeisance to, wave to, accost
1.2Show or express admiration and respect for: we salute a truly great photographer...
- When two boxers trade punches for 12 rounds, we salute the champion and respect the loser.
- Let's all salute an achievement of truly monumental proportions.
- To my colleagues who aspired for this position, I salute you and respect you for the good fight we had.
Synonyms
pay tribute to, pay homage to, honour, recognize, celebrate, acknowledge, take one's hat off to
Phrases
salute the judge
take the salute
Derivatives
saluter
- All personal salutes may be traced to the prevailing use in earlier days to ensure that the saluter placed himself in an unarmed position.
- What is now required is the "stiff-arm" salute, the saluter to keep the right hand raised with palm turned up.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin salutare 'greet, pay one's respects to', from salus, salut- 'health, welfare, greeting'; the noun partly from Old French salut.
Salute is from Latin salutare ‘greet, pay one's respects to’, from salus, ‘health, welfare, greeting’ as greetings usually involve wishing someone good health. The same root gives us salutary (Late Middle English) originally ‘conducive to health’ and salubrious (mid 16th century) ‘healthful’. Salvo (late 16th century) comes, via Italian, from the Roman greeting salve, from salutare, and safety, salver, and save also go back to the same root.
Rhymes
- post-neuritic
- post-Newtonian
- post-Nicene
- post-nominal
- postnoon
- post-note
- postnotum
- post-nuclear
- postnuptial
- post-nuptially
- post oak
- post-obit
- post-obituary
- postocular
- postoesophageal
- post office
- post-office address
- post-office annuity
- post office box
- post-office car
- post office directory
- post office insurance
- post-office order
- post office packet
- post-officer