massage

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   give a massage to

   We massaged their sore backs.

2. 2
   noun

   The action of rubbing, kneading or hitting someone's body, to help the person relax, prepare for muscular action (as in contact sports) or to relieve aches.

   Having a massage can have many beneficial effects.

3. 3
   noun

   The action of rubbing or kneading anything.

   The baker gave the dough one final massage.

4. 4
   verb

   To rub and knead (someone's body or body part), to perform a massage on (somebody).

   My neck doesn't hurt as much as it did last night since my wife massaged me after I got back from the concert.

5. 5
   verb

   To rub or knead anything.

   Massage the kale to soften it before making the salad.

6. 6
   verb

   To manipulate (data, a document etc.) to make it more presentable or more convenient to work with.

   News relating to public disturbances was systematically massaged [...].

7. 7
   noun

   kneading and rubbing parts of the body to increase circulation and promote relaxation

8. 8
   verb

   manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal or relaxation purposes

Etymology

From French massage (noun), from masser (“to massage”) (borrowed around the end of the 18th century from Arabic مَسَّ (massa, “feel, touch”), or from Portuguese amassar) + -age. Cognate to German massieren.