massage
verb/ˈmæsɑːʒ/
/məˈsɑːʒ/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they massage | /ˈmæsɑːʒ/ /məˈsɑːʒ/ |
| he / she / it massages | /ˈmæsɑːʒɪz/ /məˈsɑːʒɪz/ |
| past simple massaged | /ˈmæsɑːʒd/ /məˈsɑːʒd/ |
| past participle massaged | /ˈmæsɑːʒd/ /məˈsɑːʒd/ |
| -ing form massaging | /ˈmæsɑːʒɪŋ/ /məˈsɑːʒɪŋ/ |
- massage something to rub and press a person’s body with the hands, especially to reduce pain in the muscles and joints
- He massaged the aching muscles in her feet.
Extra ExamplesTopics Healthcareb2- She massaged my back with scented oil.
- Massage it lightly with your fingertips.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- massage something into something to rub a substance into the skin, hair, etc.
- Massage the cream into your skin.
- massage something (disapproving) to change facts, figures, etc. in order to make them seem better than they really are
- The government was accused of massaging the unemployment figures.
Word Originlate 19th cent.: from French, from masser ‘knead, treat with massage’, probably from Portuguese amassar ‘knead’, from massa ‘dough’.
Idioms
See massage in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionarymassage somebody's ego
- to say nice things about somebody, often in a way that is not sincere, in order to make them feel better, more confident, more attractive, etc.
Check pronunciation:
massage