Massage

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /məˈsÉ‘Ê’/
• UK IPA: /ˈmæsÉ‘Ê’/

Origin

From French massage, from masser ("to massage") (borrowed around the end of the 18th century from Arabic مس (mássa, "feel, touch")) + -age. Cognate to massieren.

Full definition of massage

Noun

1. The action of rubbing, kneading or hitting someone's body, to help the person relax, prepare for muscular action (as in contact sports) or to relieve aches.Having a massage can have many beneficial effects.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

• erotic massage
• massager
• massage parlour, massage parlor
• massage therapist
• massotherapy

Related terms

• masseur, masseuse

Verb

1. (transitive) To rub and knead (someone's body or a part of a body), to perform a massage on (somebody).
2. (transitive) To manipulate (data, a document etc.) to make it more presentable or more convenient to work with.
• 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 118:News relating to public disturbances was systematically massaged ....
• 2008, Patrick Wintour & Steven Morris, The Guardian, May 22 2008, p. 3:The Conservatives have massaged expectations down by saying they would be delighted with a majority of 1,000 ...
3. (transitive) To falsify (data or accounts).