I.
noun
1 military gesture
ADJECTIVE
▪ military , naval
▪ fascist , Nazi
▪ crisp ( esp. AmE ), sharp ( esp. AmE ), smart
▪ casual , half-hearted , sloppy
▪ mock
VERB + SALUTE
▪ give (sb) , snap ( AmE ), throw ( AmE )
▪
The sentry gave a smart ~ and waved us on.
▪
The Admiral snapped a sharp ~.
▪ acknowledge , return
▪ take ( BrE )
▪
The Queen took the ~ as the guardsmen marched past.
2 action of respect or welcome
ADJECTIVE
▪ final , last
▪ 21-gun , etc.
▪ triumphant , victory
PREPOSITION
▪ in ~
▪
The guests raised their glasses in ~.
▪ ~ from
▪
The retiring editor received a special ~ from the local newspaper.
▪ ~ to
▪
His first words were a ~ to the people of South Africa.
II.
verb
ADVERB
▪ crisply ( esp. AmE ), sharply ( esp. AmE ), smartly
▪
The captain stood to attention and ~d smartly.
PREPOSITION
▪ with
▪
He ~d her with a graceful bend of his head.
Salute is used with these nouns as the object: ↑ bravery , ↑ flag , ↑ hero , ↑ officer