friendly

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   characteristic of or befitting a friend

   friendly advice

2. 2
   adj

   of or belonging to your own country's forces or those of an ally

   in friendly territory

3. 3
   adj

   easy to understand or use

   user-friendly computers

4. 4
   adj

   Generally warm, approachable and easy to relate with in character.

   Your cat seems very friendly.

5. 5
   adj

   Inviting, characteristic of friendliness.

   He gave a friendly smile.

6. 6
   adj

   Having an easy or accepting relationship with something.

   a user-friendly software program

7. 7
   adj

   Compatible with, or not damaging to (the compounded noun).

   The cobbled streets aren't very bike-friendly.

8. 8
   adj

   Without any hostility.

   a friendly competition

Etymology

From Middle English frendly, freendly, frendely, frendlich, from Old English frēondlīċ, from Proto-Germanic *frijōndlīkaz, equivalent to friend + -ly. Cognate with Saterland Frisian früntelk, fjuntelk (“friendly”), West Frisian freonlik (“friendly”), Dutch vriendelijk (“friendly”), German Low German fründelk, frünnelk (“friendly”), German freundlich (“friendly”). Doublet of friendlike.