to say hello to someone or make them feel welcome when you meet or see them
At the party, everyone rushed to greet the guest of honor at the door.
The receptionist always stands up to greet visitors with a cheerful smile.
✦ Old English grētan “to approach, address, salute,” related to German grüßen, originally meaning “come into contact with.”
to receive or react to something in a particular way
His proposal was greeted with enthusiastic applause.
A cold silence greeted her announcement.
(Scottish) to cry or weep, especially noisily
The bairn began to greet when his scoop of ice-cream fell onto the pavement.
"Dinna greet, lass," the old fisherman said kindly.
✦ From Scots and Northern English usage, continuing the Old English sense “lament, bewail,” which survived in dialect though lost in Standard English.
a polite word or sign of welcome or recognition when meeting someone or welcoming them somewhere.
She gave a warm greeting to her old friend.
He nodded his head in greeting as they passed.
✦ From Middle English greting, gretung (“greeting”), from Old English grēting, grēting (“greeting”), equivalent to greet + -ing.
(greetings) a formal or friendly message of goodwill, especially at the beginning of a letter or in person.
Please give my greetings to your parents.
Season's greetings from our family!
✦ The plural use developed in the 16th century for polite regards at the end of letters.
