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

For a company that started as an encrypted messaging startup just two years ago, Cursor has come a long way.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a healthy brain, synaptic vesicles act as tiny packages that carry chemical messages from one neuron to the next.

Read more on Science Daily

The inciting incident came on Nov. 18 with the release of a video message featuring Kelly and five other Democrats — Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, and Reps.

Read more on Salon

In a message of reconciliation, there will be a visit to the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, bombed during the Second World War.

Read more on BBC

On Sunday, thousands of people had gathered outside the charred buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district to lay flowers and leave mementos and messages such as “rest in peace” and “Hong Kong be strong.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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