noun
salute
suh-LOOT
noun
1
A formal gesture of greeting or respect, such as raising a hand to the forehead.
"The soldiers gave a crisp salute as the general walked past."
verb
1
To greet or honour someone with a formal gesture or words of respect.
"The guard saluted the officer as he entered the base."
"We salute the bravery of everyone who took part in the rescue."
How to Use Salute
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal greeting gesture, or to honour someone with one — also used more loosely to mean "praise" or "acknowledge."
Common pairings
salute the flag
military salute
salute someone's courage
Word Forms
saluted past tense, salutes plural, salutes singular
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Etymology
From Latin salutare, "to wish well" or "to greet," from salus, "health, safety" — the same root as "salutation" and the toast "salud."