hello

views updated

hel·lo / həˈlō; heˈlō; ˈhelō/ (also hal·lo or chiefly Brit. hul·lo) • interj. used as a greeting: hello there, Katie! ∎  used to begin a telephone conversation: Hello? Connor speaking. ∎ Brit. used to express surprise: hello, what's all this then? ∎  used as a cry to attract someone's attention: “Hello below!” he cried. ∎  / həˈlō; heˈlō/ [often pronounced with a rising–falling intonation pattern and a prolonged final vowel] expressing sarcasm or anger: hello! did you even get what the play was about?• n. (pl. -los) an utterance of “hello”; a greeting: she was getting polite nods and hellos from people.• v. (-loes, -loed) [intr.] say or shout “hello”; greet someone.