n.
 an instance or manner of greeting someone. 
▸a pleased or approving reaction.
exclam.
 used to greet someone in a glad or friendly way.
v.
  - greet (someone arriving) in a glad, polite, or friendly way.
- be glad to receive or hear of:![]()  the decision was widely welcomed. 
adj.
   - (of a guest or new arrival) gladly received.
- very pleasing because much needed or desired.
- allowed or invited to do a specified thing:![]()  you are welcome to join in. ▸
( welcome to)
 used to indicate relief at relinquishing something to another: ![]()  you're welcome to it! 
Derivative
  
    - welcomely adv.
- welcomeness n.
- welcomer n.
- welcoming n. & adj.
- welcomingly adv.
 
  Etymology
  OE wilcuma ‘a person whose coming is pleasing’, wilcumian (v.), from wil- ‘desire, pleasure’ + cuman ‘come’; change to wel- influenced by OFr. bien venu or ON velkominn.