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
“Walaikum salaam, Sara. How nice to see you!”
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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
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
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
Okay, give my salaams to your parents, and I will talk to you later.”
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
One Teheran elector dropped his ballot in the box, then salaamed deeply three times to the container.
From Time Magazine Archive
It was a Mecca to which diplomats either made pilgrimages or salaamed.
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
The girl raised her eyes to the proconsul's face and salaamed with enchanting grace.
From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Miller, Elizabeth
He stopped at once, and salaamed, wondering what his master could have to say if it was not complaint at some unconscious shortcoming in his service.
From The Outcaste by Penny, F. E.
In desperation, newsmen formed a crescent on Rita's lawn, fell to their knees, salaaming and pleading.
From Time Magazine Archive
The country folk received the information with much salaaming, and expressed a hope that she would be favoured.
From The Outcaste by Penny, F. E.
A shadowy white figure lifted the curtain between the two rooms and stood salaaming.
From Jan and Her Job by Harker, L. Allen (Lizzie Allen)
These latter thronged out of their houses, bearing their household goods, and salaaming to the ground, as they made their way towards the gate of the fort.
From March to Magdala by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Ibrahim brought him into our room, and there he stood silently, after salaaming us in the usual way.
From By Desert Ways to Baghdad by Jebb, Louisa
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.
