massage

American  

[muh-sahzh, -sahj, mas-ahzh] / məˈsɑʒ, -ˈsɑdʒ, ˈmæs ɑʒ /

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.

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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 British  

/ -sɑːdʒ, ˈmæsɑːʒ /

noun

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

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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

Other Word Forms

• massager noun
• massagist noun

Etymology

Origin of massage

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

Example Sentences

A hi-tech racquet lab provides personalised strings and grips, while a health suite offers physiotherapy, massage therapy and plunge pools.

From BBC

I’m getting a brain massage — and it’s sublime.

From Los Angeles Times

"I say to him, 'Massage table in the middle of your house? How often do you have a massage?'"

From BBC

Also new to me were the luxury spas that have proliferated in recent years, a modern iteration of traditional Thai massage, which I’d trained in at a local hospital.

From The Wall Street Journal

One is braiding her hair, and the other is massaging a tincture onto her arms and hands, which must be the source of the smell.

From Literature

Related Words

• caress
• pat
• rub