Salute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Saluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Saluting.]
Etymology: [L. salutare, salutatum, from salus, -utis, health, safety. See Salubrious.]
1. To adress, as with expressions of kind wishes and courtesy; to greet; to hail. I salute you with this kingly title. Shak.
2. Hence, to give a sign of good will; to compliment by an act or ceremony, as a kiss, a bow, etc. You have the prettiest tip of a finger . . . I must take the freedom to salute it. Addison.
3. (Mil. & Naval)
To honor, as some day, person, or nation, by a discharge of cannon or small arms, by dipping colors, by cheers, etc.
1 more senses
4. To promote the welfare and safety of; to benefit; to gratify. [Obs.] "If this salute my blood a jot." Shak.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Salute, n.
1. The act of saluting, or expressing kind wishes or respect; salutation; greeting.
2. A sign, token, or ceremony, expressing good will, compliment, or respect, as a kiss, a bow, etc. Tennyson.
3. (Mil. & Naval)
A token of respect or honor for some distinguished or official personage, for a foreign vessel or flag, or for some festival or event, as by presenting arms, by a discharge of cannon, volleys of small arms, dipping the colors or the topsails, etc.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for salute; he lists it under address.
Where he writes about it:
To accost is to speak first, to friend or stranger, generally with a view to opening conversation; greet is not so distinctly limited, since one may return another's greeting; greet and hail may imply but a passing word; greeting may be altogether silent; to hail is to greet in a loud-voiced and commonly hearty and joyous way, as appears in the expression "hail fellow, well met." To salute is to greet with special token of respect, as a soldier his commander. — from address