- 1[countable] the action of raising your right hand to the side of your head as a sign of respect, especially between soldiers and officers He returned the salute as he passed the line of guards.
- 2[countable, uncountable] a thing that you say or do to show your admiration or respect for someone or something or to welcome someone 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. The occasion was organized as a salute to a century of change.
- 3[countable] an official occasion when guns are fired into the air to show respect for an important person a 21-gun salute Idioms
when an officer or important person takes the salute, soldiers march past him or her saluting and the officer salutes back
Check pronunciation: salute