friendly

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective (friendlier, friendliest) 1 ~ to / toward(s) sb behaving in a kind and pleasant way because you like sb or want to help them: a warm and friendly person * Everyone was very friendly towards me. 2 showing kindness; making you feel relaxed and as though you are among friends: a friendly smile / welcome * a small hotel with a friendly atmosphere 3 ~ (with sb) treating sb as a friend: We soon became friendly with the couple next door. * She was on friendly terms with most of the hospital staff. * We were not on the friendliest of terms (= we were not friendly at all). 4 (especially of the relationship between countries) not treating sb/sth as an enemy: to establish / maintain friendly relations with all countries 5 (often in compound adjectives) that is helpful and easy to use; that helps sb/sth or does not harm it: This software is much friendlier than the previous version. * environmentally-friendly farming methods * ozone-friendly cleaning materials seealsoUSER-FRIENDLY 6 in which the people, teams, etc. taking part are not seriously competing against each other: a friendly argument * friendly rivalry * (BrE) It was only a friendly match. friendliness noun [U]: We were greeted with warmth and friendliness. noun (plural friendlies) (also friendly match) (both BrE) a game of football, etc. that is not part of an important competition: He played for England in a friendly against Spain.