From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsalutesa‧lute1 /səˈluːt/ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]PM to move your right hand to your head, especially in order to show respect to an officer in the army, navy etc The two soldiers saluted Lieutenant Cecil. The men jumped to their feet and saluted.2 [transitive] formalPRAISE to praise someone for the things they have achieved, especially publiclysalute somebody as something James Joyce was saluted as the greatest writer of the 20th century.3 [transitive] old-fashionedHELLO to greet someone in a polite way, especially by moving your hand or body→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
salute• He saluted briefly and opened the door, afraid that she might be about to cry.• Manager Kendall was prompted to salute Johnston's contribution after his latest strike.• He saluted smartly as he approached us.• He turned around and saluted the captain.• It's against their religion to salute the U.S. flag.• Prisoners file down dustless hallways in formation, saluting their keepers as they pass.• Merchants and clerks rushed out from stores, bareheaded, saluting them as they passed.• Broadly smiling, he saluted them: Susan had drawn him a few days before and made him famous.• He could feel his eyebrows declare independence-they saluted, they chopped down, they came together like two fuzzy magnets.salute somebody as something• Bush saluted Madison as "the father of our Constitution."salutesalute2 noun 1 [countable]PM an act of raising your right hand to your head as a sign of respect, usually done by a soldier to an officer As they left, the corporal gave them a respectful salute.in salute The officer raised his hand in salute.2 [countable, uncountable]HELLO something that expresses praise to someone for something they have achieved, or that expresses honour or respect to someone or somethingin salute Everyone at the table raised their glasses in salute.salute to His first words were a salute to the people of South Africa.3 [countable]PM an occasion when guns are fired into the air in order to show respect for someone important a 21-gun saluteExamples from the Corpus
salute• Kevin raised both clasped hands in a salute to acknowledge luke-warm cheers.• State law requiring a flag salute is superseded by the First Amendment of the Constitution.• What if state law requires a daily flag salute?• Many states mandate daily flag salutes and other patriotic exercises.• Shaker gave a loose salute, and the grinning ensign tapped his forehead with a finger.• Carlson felt it unnecessary to return the customary military salute.• He flourished the bloody sword at them in a mocking salute, then trotted back to the road.• Aldo gave a slovenly salute and left.Origin salute1 (1300-1400) Latin salutare, from salus “health, safety, greeting” 