Word of the Day ·

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massage

UK/ˈmæsɑː(d)ʒ/UK/məˈsɑː(d)ʒ/US/məˈsɑ(d)ʒ/

noun

What it means

  1. countableuncountableThe 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.

    1 more example

    During the long lapses in work common with on-location productions, Marilyn would silently meditate as Roberts provided a shoulder massage.

    2014, Gary Vitacco-Robles, Icon: The Life, Times and Films of Marilyn Monroe Volume 2 1956-1962 AND Beyond
  2. countableuncountableThe action of rubbing or kneading anything.

    The baker gave the dough one final massage.

In a sentence

Having a massage can have many beneficial effects.

Where it comes from

  1. Portugueseamassar
  2. Arabicمَسَّ“feel, touch”
  3. Frenchmassage
  4. Englishmassage

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.

Full entry for massage →

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