hello

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: hel=lo

CIDE DICTIONARY

hello, interj. & n. 

 An exclamation used as a greeting, to call attention, as an exclamation of surprise, or to encourage one. This variant of Halloo and Holloo has become the dominant form. In the United States, it is the most common greeting used in answering a telephone.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

hello, int., n., & v. (also hallo, hullo)
--int.
1 a an expression of informal greeting, or of surprise. b used to begin a telephone conversation.
2 a cry used to call attention.
--n. (pl. -os) a cry of 'hello'.
--v.intr. (-oes, -oed) cry 'hello'.

Etymology

var. of earlier HOLLO

THESAURUS

hello

accost, address, bob, bow, curtsy, embrace, greeting, hail, hand-clasp, handshake, how-do-you-do, hug, kiss, nod, salutation, salute, smile, smile of recognition, wave