/ ˈfrendli; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective ( friend·lier , friend·li·est )
1.
friendly to / toward(s) sb behaving in a kind and pleasant way because you like sb or want to help them :
a warm and friendly person
Everyone was very friendly towards me.
OPP unfriendly
2.
showing kindness; making you feel relaxed and as though you are among friends :
a friendly smile / welcome
a small hotel with a friendly atmosphere
OPP unfriendly
3.
friendly (with sb) treating sb as a friend :
We soon became friendly with the couple next door.
She was on friendly terms with most of the hospital staff.
4.
( especially of the relationship between countries ) not treating sb/sth as an enemy :
to maintain friendly relations with all countries
SYN hostile
5.
(often in compound adjectives) that is helpful and easy to use; that helps sb/sth or does not harm it :
This software is much friendlier than the previous version.
environmentally-friendly farming methods
ozone-friendly cleaning materials
—see also user-friendly
6.
in which the people, teams, etc. taking part are not seriously competing against each other :
a friendly argument
friendly rivalry
( BrE )
It was only a friendly match.
► friend·li·ness noun [ U ]
■ noun
( pl. -ies ) (also ˈfriendly match ) (both BrE ) a game of football ( soccer ) etc. that is not part of an important competition