massage
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massage
a treatment consisting of rubbing and kneading the body to increase suppleness and relieve tension; to manipulate data to produce a desired result: massage the figures
Not to be confused with:
message – a communication sent by mail, e-mail, messenger, telephone, etc.; an official communication; a prophetic pronouncement: That cough is a message that your cold is getting worse.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
mas·sage
(mə-säzh′, -säj′)n.
1.
a. The therapeutic manipulation of body tissues by a trained practitioner, as by systematic stroking, kneading, or application of pressure, to effect a beneficial physiological response such as pain reduction or improved circulation.
b. An act or instance of the therapeutic manipulation of body tissues. Also called therapeutic massage.
2.
a. The rubbing or kneading of parts of the body to relax the muscles, aid circulation, or provide sensual pleasure.
b. An act or instance of such rubbing or kneading.
3.
a. The manipulation of the genitals or other body tissues for sexual arousal; erotic massage.
b. An act or instance of erotic massage.
c. Illicit sexual services provided under the guise of therapeutic massage.
tr.v. mas·saged, mas·sag·ing, mas·sag·es
1. To give a massage to.
2. To treat by means of a massage.
3. To coddle or cajole.
4. To manipulate (data, for example): Pollsters massaged the numbers to favor their candidate.
[French, from masser, to massage, from Arabic masaḥa, to stroke, anoint; see mšḥ in Semitic roots or massa, to touch; see mšš in Semitic roots.]
mas·sag′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
massage
(ˈmæsɑːʒ; -sɑːdʒ)n
(Medicine) the act of kneading, rubbing, etc, parts of the body to promote circulation, suppleness, or relaxation
vb (tr)
1. (Medicine) to give a massage to
2. (Medicine) to treat (stiffness, aches, etc) by a massage
3. to manipulate (statistics, data, etc) so that they appear to support a particular interpretation or to be better than they are; doctor
4. massage someone's ego to boost someone's sense of self-esteem by flattery
[C19: from French, from masser to rub; see mass]
ˈmassager, ˈmassagist n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
mas•sage
(məˈsɑʒ, -ˈsɑdʒ; esp. Brit. ˈmæs ɑʒ)n., v. -saged, -sag•ing. n.
1. the act or skill of treating the body by rubbing, patting, or the like, as to stimulate circulation or relieve tension.
v.t. 2. to treat by massage.
3. to cajole; flatter.
4. to manipulate so as to produce a desired result: to massage data.
[1875–80; < French, =mass(er) to massage (< Arabic massa to handle) + -age -age]
mas•sag′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
massage
Past participle: massaged
Gerund: massaging
| Imperative |
|---|
| massage |
| massage |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
massage
From the Greek word “massein,” meaning “to knead,” this is a manipulative therapy designed to relax, stimulate and invigorate the body by kneading, stroking, and pressing the soft tissues of the body.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  massage - kneading and rubbing parts of the body to increase circulation and promote relaxationrubdown - the act of rubbing down, usually for relaxation or medicinal purposes treatment, intervention - care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury) cardiac massage, heart massage - an emergency procedure that employs rhythmic compression of the heart (either through the chest wall or, during surgery, directly to the heart) in an attempt to maintain circulation during cardiac arrest effleurage - a rhythmic stroking; "effleurage of the abdomen is used in the Lamaze method of childbirth" petrissage - massage of the skin which is gently lifted and squeezed reflexology - massage to relieve tension by finger pressure; based on the belief that there are reflex points on the feet, hands, and head that are connected to every part of the body Swedish massage - massage combined with a system of active and passive exercises for the muscles and joints tapotement - massage in which the body is tapped rhythmically with the fingers or with short rapid movements of the sides of the hand; used to loosen mucus on the chest walls of patients with bronchitis |
| Verb | 1. | massage - manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal or relaxation purposes; "She rubbed down her child with a sponge" manipulate - hold something in one's hands and move it |
| 2. | massage - give a massage to; "She massaged his sore back" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
massage
noun
1. rub-down, rubbing, manipulation, kneading, reflexology, shiatsu, acupressure, chiropractic treatment, palpation Massage isn't a long-term cure for stress.
verb
1. rub down, rub, manipulate, knead, pummel, palpate She massaged her foot, which was bruised and aching.
2. manipulate, alter, distort, doctor, cook (informal), fix (informal), rig, fiddle (informal), tamper with, tinker with, misrepresent, fiddle with, falsify efforts to massage the unemployment figures
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
massage
[ˈmæsɑːʒ]Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
massage
(ˈmӕsaːʒ) , ((American) məˈsa:ʒ) verb to treat (a person's body or part of it) by rubbing etc to ease and remove pain or stiffness. She massaged my sore back.dar masajes, masajear
noun (a) treatment by massaging. His ankle was treated by massage.masaje
masseur (mӕˈsəː) – feminine masseuse (maˈsəːz) , (American also) (məˈsu:z) – noun a person who gives massage. masajista
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
massage
→ masajeMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
mas·sage
n. masaje, proceso de manipulación del cuerpo por medio de fricciones;
cardiac ___ → ___ cardíaco de resucitación;
v. dar masaje, sobar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
massage
n masaje m; cardiac — masaje cardíaco; to give a — dar (un) masaje; vt masajearEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.