The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word SALVE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
A
L
V
E
More clues leading to the result SALVE
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Greeting/something on the lips" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case greeting/something on the lips = salve.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SALVE mean?
SALVE noun- An ointment, cream, or balm with soothing, healing, or calming effects.
- Any remedy or action that soothes or heals.
- To calm or assuage.
- To heal by applications or medicaments; to apply salve to; to anoint.
- To heal; to remedy; to cure; to make good.
- To salvage.
- To save (the appearances or the phenomena); to explain (a celestial phenomenon); to account for (the apparent motions of the celestial bodies).
- To resolve (a difficulty); to refute (an objection); to harmonize (an apparent contradiction).
- To explain away; to mitigate; to excuse.
- Hail; a greeting.
- To say “salve” to; to greet; to salute.