See Also:

welcome(2) (iou)



welcome noun2. E16.
[from WELCOME noun1, interjection, & adjective or next.]
An assurance to a visitor or stranger that he or she is welcome; a glad, kind, hearty, or hospitable reception given to a person arriving, a new idea, etc. E16.
outstay one's welcome, overstay one's welcome stay too long as a visitor etc.
A. Marsh-Caldwell That he was..beloved by Everard, was sufficient to insure him a welcome. J. R. Green The welcome of the townsmen made up..for the ill-will.
b. A greeting or reception of a specified (friendly or unfriendly) kind. M16.
Shakespeare Tempest And to thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome. T. Stafford The Invaders finding so ill a welcome, returned.
c. A special award for the person or persons first drawing lots or blanks on the opening or each subsequent day of a lottery. M16-E17.
Glad or hospitable reception of a visitor or stranger. L16.
Tennyson And welcome turns a cottage to a palace. R. P. Jhabvala She got up..holding out both hands to him in welcome.
A welcoming salute with guns etc. E17.
Sir W. Scott The cannon from the ramparts glanced, And thundering welcome gave.
Comb.: welcome home (a) a party or reception to celebrate a person's homecoming (freq. attrib.); (b) dial. a bell tolled to mark a person's death; welcome mat (orig. N. Amer.) a mat put out to greet welcome visitors (lit. & fig.); welcome wagon N. Amer. a car bringing gifts and samples from local merchants to newcomers in a community.