Its welcome is silent (3)
I believe the answer is:
mat
'silent' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mat that I've seen before include "Tangle" , "carpeting" , "coaster" , "dull finish" , "Small carpet" .)