Prepare the way by giving a muted welcome to (4)
I believe the answer is:
pave
'prepare the way' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pave that I've seen before include "Put on a surface of stone slabs" , "Cover with flagstones" , "Dress with stone etc" , "Surface with stone etc." , "Cover with slabs" .)