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Definition of message noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

message

noun
 
/ˈmesɪdʒ/
 
/ˈmesɪdʒ/
Idioms
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  1. a written or spoken piece of information, etc. that you send to somebody or leave for somebody when you cannot speak to them yourself
    • There were no messages for me at the hotel.
    • I never got your message.
    • We've had an urgent message saying that your father's ill.
    • Jenny's not here at the moment. Can I take a message?
    • I left a message on her voicemail.
    • I've been trying to get you all day—don't you ever listen to your messages?
    • message (from somebody) (to somebody) Messages of support have been arriving from all over the country.
    • a televised message from the president to the American people
    • A radio message was sent out to all ships in the area.
    see also voice messageTopics Phones, email and the interneta1
    Express Yourself Leaving a phone messageLeaving a phone messageIf you phone somebody who is not able to take your call, you may need to leave a message:
      • Could I speak to Jay Black, please?
      • Could you give him a message?
      • Is there a time that might be good for me to try him again?
      • Can you let him know I’ll call back?
      • Could you ask him to call me back? My number is…
    Wordfinder
    see also error message
    Extra Examples
    • I called him and received a message on my voice mail the next day.
    • Are there any messages for me?
    • He's not here—I'll pass on the message.
    • The family sent a heartfelt message of thanks to everyone who helped.
    • They sent messages of hope to the prisoners of war.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • important
    • urgent
    • vital
    verb + message
    • convey
    • give somebody
    • pass somebody
    message + verb
    • come
    • say something
    • state something
    preposition
    • message about
    • message for
    • message from
    See full entry
  2. a piece of information sent in electronic form, for example by email or mobile phone
    • an email/a text/an SMS message
    • There were four messages in my inbox.
    • He sent me a message.
    • I turned on my cell phone to check my messages.
    • Fans post messages on her website.
    • I keep getting an error message when I try to connect to the internet.
    see also direct message, instant message, text message
    Extra Examples
    • I got an anonymous text message.
    • The email message contains an attachment.
    • Who wants spam messages appearing on their website?
    • A message pops up on the screen.
    Topics Phones, email and the interneta1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • important
    • urgent
    • vital
    verb + message
    • convey
    • give somebody
    • pass somebody
    message + verb
    • come
    • say something
    • state something
    preposition
    • message about
    • message for
    • message from
    See full entry
  3. [usually singular] an important moral, social or political idea that a book, speech, etc. is trying to communicate
    • a film with a strong religious message
    • The campaign is trying to get the message across to young people that drugs are dangerous.
    • The clear message coming from the government is that they are getting tough on crime.
    • I think this movie sends the wrong message to her young fans.
    • He uses his art to convey a political message.
    see also mixed message
    Extra Examples
    • Does this send the right message to our target audience?
    • He presents a truly chilling message in this article.
    • He tries to spread the message of safe sex.
    • The president toured the country spreading the message of national unity.
    • The take-home message is: be willing to negotiate.
    • They found a way to transform their ideas into a marketing message that everyone relates to.
    • This allowed us to bring our message to a different, younger audience.
    • This is sending a strong message about the importance of climate change.
    • This song has a universal message that everybody can relate to.
    • a novel with a serious message
    • a song with a simple message
    • spreading the message of the Bible
    • stories with hidden moral messages
    • the negative messages we send out
    • the subversive messages their films carry
    Topics Literature and writingb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • central
    • core
    • important
    verb + message
    • broadcast
    • disseminate
    • spread
    message + verb
    • emerge
    • reach somebody
    • resonate with somebody
    preposition
    • message about
    • message of
    • message to
    See full entry
  4. a piece of information that is sent from the brain to a part of the body, or from a part of the body to the brain
    • The message arrives in your brain in a fraction of a second.
  5. messages
    [plural] (Scottish English, Irish English) shopping
    • to do the messages
    • to go for the messages
    • You can leave your messages (= the things that you have bought) here.
  6. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French, based on Latin missus, past participle of mittere ‘send’.
Idioms
get the message
  1. (informal) to understand what somebody is trying to tell you indirectly
    • When he started looking at his watch, I got the message and left.
on/off message
  1. stating/not stating the official view of the political party or organization you represent
See message in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee message in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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