greeting

n.

1. A salutation

   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

   testimonial, note, card; see letter 2.