/ səˈluːt; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to touch the side of your head with the fingers of your right hand to show respect, especially in the armed forces :
[ v ]
The sergeant stood to attention and saluted.
[ vn ]
to salute the flag / an officer
2.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to express respect and admiration for sb/sth
SYN acknowledge :
The players saluted the fans before leaving the field.
The president saluted the courage of those who had fought for their country.
■ noun
1.
[ C ] the action of raising your right hand to the side of your head as a sign of respect, especially between soldiers and officers
2.
[ C , U ] a thing that you say or do to show your admiration or respect for sb/sth or to welcome sb :
He raised his hat as a friendly salute.
His first words were a salute to the people of South Africa.
They all raised their glasses in salute .
3.
[ C ] an official occasion when guns are fired into the air to show respect for an important person :
a 21-gun salute
•
IDIOMS
- take the salute
••
WORD 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 .