salaam
Americannoun
-
a salutation meaning “peace,” used especially in Islamic countries.
-
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
-
a Muslim form of salutation consisting of a deep bow with the right palm on the forehead
-
a salutation signifying peace, used chiefly by Muslims
verb
Other Word Forms
- salaamlike adjective
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.
Villagers greeted his mother, Raja Begam, with a respectful salaam.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2017
They begin to sing: Lal lal salaam, lal lal salaam, aane vaaley saathiyon ko lal lal salaam.
From The Guardian • Mar. 27, 2010
On Wednesday, the Kennedy Center named a half-dozen celebrities who will skewer and salaam before the die-hard stand-up comedian and retired “Tonight Show” host.
From Washington Post
Gordon loves the “We’re not worthy” line that Wayne and sidekick Garth salaam to Cooper in the film.
From Newsweek
“Walaikum salaam, Sara. How nice to see you!”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
