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View synonyms for massage

massage

[muh-sahzh, -sahj, mas-ahzh]

noun

  1. the act or art of treating the body by rubbing, kneading, patting, or the like, to stimulate circulation, increase suppleness, relieve tension, etc.

  2. Slang.,  attentive or indulgent treatment; pampering.

    ego massage.



verb (used with object)

massaged, massaging 
  1. to treat by massage.

  2. Slang.,  to treat with special care and attention; coddle or pamper.

    The store massages its regular customers with gifts and private sales.

  3. Informal.

    1. to manipulate, maneuver, or handle skillfully.

      to massage a bill through the Senate.

    2. to manipulate, organize, or rearrange (data, figures, or the like) to produce a specific result, especially a favorable one.

      The auditors discovered that the company had massaged the books.

massage

/ -sɑːdʒ, ˈmæsɑːʒ /

noun

  1. the act of kneading, rubbing, etc, parts of the body to promote circulation, suppleness, or relaxation

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to give a massage to

  2. 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. to boost someone's sense of self-esteem by flattery

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • massager noun
  • massagist noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of massage1

1875–80; < French, equivalent to mass ( er ) to massage (< Arabic massa to handle) + -age -age
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Word History and Origins

Origin of massage1

C19: from French, from masser to rub; see mass
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It took some massaging of the situation to get Sienna back on board with becoming a Bruin.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And then he gets, like, weirdly close to me, and he says, ‘And the right kind of massage.’

Read more on Salon

I would rather do a Thai-style massage where you have your clothes on or Chinese acupressure.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One vendor arranged for annual trips to a resort in Maui, complete with massages, room charges, and thousands of dollars in gift cards redeemable at the resort, the complaint said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He asked her both times to remove her top and massaged her breasts.

Read more on BBC

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