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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of massage¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of massage¹

C19: from French, from masser to rub; see _mass

Example Sentences

Apparently she wants skin cream, candles, cheap jewelry, expensive pajamas, aromatherapy shower pods, and a pillow that does heated shiatsu massage.

Read more on Barron's

A relative who hosts huge dinners for her extended family splurges the next day: hiring a housekeeper to come and going out to get a mani-pedi, 10-minute back and neck massage.

Read more on Salon

They have resorted to measures from deboning the bird to giving it a deep-tissue massage to stuffing a whole pineapple inside.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Then there was the time, following a 90-minute massage, when I had the spa’s sauna and steam rooms all to myself.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In addition to a session with a massage therapist, he sometimes rides his Peloton.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• caress 
• pat 
• rub