message

[mes-ij]

noun

1. a communication containing some information, news, advice, request, or the like, sent by messenger, telephone, email, or other means.

2. an official communication, as from a chief executive to a legislative body.

   the president's message to Congress.

3. Digital Technology.,  a post or reply on an online message board.

4. the inspired utterance of a prophet or sage.

5. the point, moral, or meaning of a gesture, utterance, novel, motion picture, etc.

6. Computers.,  a warning, permission, etc., communicated by the system or software to the user.

   an error message;

   a message to allow blocked content.

verb (used without object)

1. to send a message, especially an electronic message.

verb (used with object)

1. to send (a person) a message.

2. to send as a message.

message

/ ˈmɛsɪdʒ /

noun

1. a communication, usually brief, from one person or group to another

2. an implicit meaning or moral, as in a work of art

3. a formal communiqué

4. an inspired communication of a prophet or religious leader

5. a mission; errand

6. (plural) shopping

   going for the messages

7. informal,  to understand what is meant

verb

1. (tr) to send as a message, esp to signal (a plan, etc)

Other Word Forms

• intermessage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of message¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin miss(us) “sent” (past participle of mittere “to send”) + -āticum -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of message¹

C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unattested) something sent, from Latin missus, past participle of mittere to send

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get the message, to understand or comprehend, especially to infer the correct meaning from circumstances, hints, etc..

   If we don't invite him to the party, maybe he'll get the message.

see get the message.

Example Sentences

A similar phenomenon took place this month when an internal test of the city of South Pasadena’s emergency alert system sent a message to phones across L.A.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

These details don’t cost much, but they whisper the same message:you’re cared for; linger awhile.

Read more on Salon

"A couple of folk said you owe them at least a fiver, so I messaged and said if you come back I'll give you a wee something," she added.

Read more on BBC

Bryant said members of the council emphasized ensuring the messaging didn’t patronize young users and allowed teens enough time to download their conversations and say goodbye to their chatbots.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a message in Spanish, music producer and engineer Times J Martinez wrote that she was a young and talented musician.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• directive 
• information 
• letter 
• memo 
• memorandum 
• news 
• note 
• notice 
• report 
• word