salaam
Americannoun
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a salutation meaning “peace,” used especially in Islamic countries.
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a very low bow or obeisance, especially with the palm of the right hand placed on the forehead.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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a Muslim form of salutation consisting of a deep bow with the right palm on the forehead
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a salutation signifying peace, used chiefly by Muslims
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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salaamsimple
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salaamssimple
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have salaamedperfect
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has salaamedperfect
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am salaamingprogressive
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are salaamingprogressive
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is salaamingprogressive
-
have been salaamingperfect progressive
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has been salaamingperfect progressive
Past
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salaamedsimple
-
had salaamedperfect
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was salaamingprogressive
-
were salaamingprogressive
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had been salaamingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of salaam
First recorded in 1605–15; from Arabic salām “peace,” cognate with Hebrew shalom ( def. ), from common Semitic šalām
Vocabulary lists containing salaam
National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
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Muslim Empires and the Middle East - High School
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Muslim Empires and the Middle East - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Among the highlights of the show was La Bohème, a salaam to the Parisian neighbourhood Montmartre – and an Aznavour signature tune.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 2, 2018
Villagers greeted his mother, Raja Begam, with a respectful salaam.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2017
Maira asks the group, “Can I write salaam aleikum?”
From Washington Post ● Jan. 23, 2016
Gordon loves the “We’re not worthy” line that Wayne and sidekick Garth salaam to Cooper in the film.
From Newsweek
“We aren’t guys. Is it so hard to say salaam properly to your parents?”
From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan
The book's only egregious fault is its beginning: there, the author salaams toward Oxford, Miss., as almost every new Southern writer has done for two decades.
From Time Magazine Archive
I say salaams to Nuah and good-bye to Tats and lie on the couch with my eyes wide open.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
She follows me to the door, so I turn and kiss salaams on her cheeks, to disarm her from further questions.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
There were salaams from the benches as people I knew from masjid inquired about Mama and Baba, told me that du'as had been made for their health, and asked if I needed anything.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Okay, give my salaams to your parents, and I will talk to you later.”
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
It was a Mecca to which diplomats either made pilgrimages or salaamed.
From Time Magazine Archive
One Teheran elector dropped his ballot in the box, then salaamed deeply three times to the container.
From Time Magazine Archive
Italians still salaamed to his face on screens, his name on walls, but there were certain new mental reservations in their reverence.
From Time Magazine Archive
When they drew abreast he salaamed and said: "Masters, kind gentlemen!"
From The Three Sapphires by Fraser, W. A.
These drew near and salaamed, yet without the obsequious servility customary on approaching the presence of the more despotic Eastern ruler; for these mountain chiefs ruled more by patriarchal prestige than despotic power.
From The Sirdar's Oath A Tale of the North-West Frontier by Mitford, Bertram
In desperation, newsmen formed a crescent on Rita's lawn, fell to their knees, salaaming and pleading.
From Time Magazine Archive
Around him were the gentlemen of his Court, salaaming to him and to each other with strictly Oriental etiquette, and mingled with them English officers, ladies and civilians.
From Fifty-One Years of Victorian Life by Child-Villiers, Margaret Elizabeth Leigh
As he made his way out of the banqueting hall, a score of noblemen, captains of thousands, over-eunuchs, and more trailed at his heels, salaaming, fawning, congratulating, offering all manner of service.
From A Victor of Salamis by Davis, William Stearns
He stepped on to the trolley and sat down, as Ali, saluting and salaaming respectfully, again bade him be of good cheer and high heart, as he would see him at Kilindini.
From Cupid in Africa by Wren, P. C.
He immediately rose to his feet and advanced, salaaming to the Germans.
From The Childrens' Story of the War, Volume 3 (of 10) From the First Battle of Ypres to the End of the Year 1914 by Parrott, James Edward
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
