greeting

I

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [A salutation]

Syn. welcome, address, notice, reception, attention, accosting, speaking to, heralding, ushering in, acknowledgement, salutation, one's compliments, regards.

Common greetings include: hello, how do you do? how are you? aloha (Hawaiian); hola, qué tal? ( both Spanish); shalom (Hebrew); wie geht's? (German); comment allez-vous? , comment ça va? ( both French); good morning, good day, good afternoon, good evening, good morrow; bonjour, bon soir, bonne nuit ( all French); guten Morgen, guten Abend ( both German); buenos días , buenas tardes, buenas noches ( all Spanish); ciao, buon giorno, buona notte ( all Italian); hi*, hey*, howdy*, yo*, you*, say*, I say*, what's new?*, how's it going?* what's up?* what do you know?* how's tricks?* how goes it?* what's happening?* what's going on?*

2. [A message of courtesy]

Syn. testimonial, note, card; see letter 2 .

II

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

salutation, acknowledgement, respects, hello, hail, nod, welcome, *how do, salute, bow, reception.

III

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun An expression, in words or gestures, marking a meeting of persons: hail2, salutation, salute, welcome. See GREETING.