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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Greet: Meaning, Pronunciation, and Usage Examples (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：say hello to (greet)

greet 🔊
/ɡriːt/
v.
To say hello to someone in a friendly way when you meet them.
Two friends greet each other with a smile and wave on a sunny street
say hello to 🔊
➕
/seɪ hɛˈloʊ tuː/
v.
To address someone in a friendly manner upon meeting them, often with a spoken salutation or gesture.
📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation
From Old English grētan, related to Proto-Germanic *grōtijaną.
💡 Mnemonic
Think 'great meet' — a great meeting always starts with a friendly greet.
📖 Example
I saw my teacher in the coffee shop and gave her a friendly wave to greet her. 🔊 I saw my teacher in the coffee shop and gave her a friendly wave to greet her.
🔗 Collocations
greet someone warmly – to welcome someone with enthusiasm and kindness
greet with a smile – to acknowledge someone by smiling at them
greet each other – two or more people exchange salutations
🔄 Synonyms
welcome (v.) – to greet someone in a warm and hospitable way, especially upon their arrival
salute (v.) – to make a formal gesture of respect or greeting, often with a hand movement
hail (v.) – to call out to someone in order to get their attention and greet them
🚫 Antonyms
ignore (v.) – to deliberately pay no attention to someone when meeting them
snub (v.) – to insult someone by ignoring them or refusing to greet them
shun (v.) – to avoid or reject someone completely, refusing any interaction
🌱 Derivatives
greeting (n.) – a word or gesture used to welcome or acknowledge someone
greeter (n.) – a person who welcomes others, especially at an event or entrance
📖 Cultural Story
Originating from Old English grētan, 'to approach, address,' the word evolved into a universal social ritual. In modern culture, greeting gestures like waves or handshakes signal respect and openness.

Meaning 2：welcome formally (greet)

greet 🔊
/ɡriːt/
v.
To welcome someone in a polite or formal way when they arrive somewhere.
Hotel staff greets family at entrance holding door open
welcome formally 🔊
➕
/ˈwɛlkəm ˈfɔːrməli/
v.
To receive someone in a polite or official manner, often at a place of arrival, as part of a duty or ceremony.
📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example
The company CEO will be at the airport to greet the important foreign guests tomorrow. 🔊 The company CEO will be at the airport to greet the important foreign guests tomorrow.
🔗 Collocations
greet guests – to welcome people who are invited to an event or place
greet dignitaries – to formally welcome important officials or leaders
greet visitors – to acknowledge and welcome people who come to a location
🔄 Synonyms
receive (v.) – to officially welcome someone as a host
acknowledge (v.) – to recognize someone's presence, especially in a formal setting
host (v.) – to act as the person receiving and entertaining guests
🚫 Antonyms
dismiss (v.) – to send someone away, not welcoming them
ignore (v.) – to fail to acknowledge someone's arrival
🌱 Derivatives
greeting (n.) – a polite word or gesture of welcome
greeter (n.) – a person who officially welcomes others

Meaning 3：be perceived first (greet)

greet 🔊
/ɡriːt/
v.
To be the first thing you hear, see, or feel when you go somewhere.
Person opens bakery door greeted by warm steam and bread smell
be perceived first 🔊
➕
/bi pərˈsiːvd fɜːrst/
v.
To be the initial sensory experience (sight, sound, smell, etc.) that one encounters upon entering or approaching a place.
📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example
As soon as I opened the door to the small shop, the smell of fresh bread greeted my nose. 🔊 As soon as I opened the door to the small shop, the smell of fresh bread greeted my nose.
🔗 Collocations
greet the senses – to be immediately perceived by one or more senses
greet the eye – to be the first thing that one sees upon looking around
greet the nose – to be the first smell that one experiences
🔄 Synonyms
meet (v.) – to come into the presence or perception of something, often as the first encounter
encounter (v.) – to experience something unexpectedly or as the first thing
assail (v.) – to affect the senses strongly and immediately, often used for strong smells or sounds
🚫 Antonyms
fade (v.) – to gradually become less perceptible or disappear from perception
escape (v.) – to fail to be noticed or perceived
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