1. (v. t.) To address, as with expressions of kind wishes and courtesy; to greet; to hail.

2. (v. t.) Hence, to give a sign of good will; to compliment by an act or ceremony, as a kiss, a bow, etc.

3. (v. t.) To honor, as some day, person, or nation, by a discharge of cannon or small arms, by dipping colors, by cheers, etc.

4. (v. t.) To promote the welfare and safety of; to benefit; to gratify.

5. (n.) The act of saluting, or expressing kind wishes or respect; salutation; greeting.

6. (n.) A sign, token, or ceremony, expressing good will, compliment, or respect, as a kiss, a bow, etc.

7. (n.) A token of respect or honor for some distinguished or official personage, for a foreign vessel or flag, or for some festival or event, as by presenting arms, by a discharge of cannon, volleys of small arms, dipping the colors or the topsails, etc.

accost acknowledge address adulate anniversaries apostrophize apotheosize appeal to approach beat the drum belaud bend bending the knee bepraise bespeak bid good day bid good morning bless blow up boast of bob bow bow to bowing and scraping brag about buttonhole call to celebrate celebrating celebration ceremony commemoration cry up curtsy deify demonstrate respect for dip dip the colors dip the ensign dipping the colors do homage to dress ship dressing ship emblazon embrace eulogize exalt exchange colors exchange greetings extol fanfare fanfaronade festivity flag flag down flash flatter flourish of trumpets genuflection give a signal give the nod glance glorify greet greeting hail hail and speak half-mast halloo hand-clasp handshake hello hero-worship hoist a banner holiday homage honor how-do-you-do hug idolize inclination invoke jubilee kick kiss kiss hands kneeling kowtow laud leer lift the hat lionize magnify make a sign make a signal make much of making a leg marking the occasion memorialization memory nod nod to nudge obeisance obsequiousness observance ovation overpraise panegyrize pay homage to pay respect to pay tribute pay tribute to poke porter aux nues praise present arms presenting arms prostration puff puff up pull the forelock raise a cry recognize rejoicing religious rites remembrance render honor to revel reverence rite ritual observance salaam salutation salvo say hello scrape servility shake shake hands sign signal signalize smile smile of recognition solemn observance solemnization sound an alarm sound the trumpet speak speak fair speak to stand at attention stand to attention standing at attention submission submissiveness take aside talk to testimonial testimonial banquet testimonial dinner toast touch touch the hat tribute triumph trumpet uncover unfurl a flag wave wave a flag wave the hand wink