Library / English Dictionary

MASSAGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("massage" is a kind of...):

intervention; treatment (care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "massage"):

rubdown (the act of rubbing down, usually for relaxation or medicinal purposes)

cardiac massage; heart massage (an emergency procedure that employs rhythmic compression of the heart (either through the chest wall or, during surgery, directly to the heart) in an attempt to maintain circulation during cardiac arrest)

effleurage (a rhythmic stroking)

petrissage (massage of the skin which is gently lifted and squeezed)

reflexology (massage to relieve tension by finger pressure; based on the belief that there are reflex points on the feet, hands, and head that are connected to every part of the body)

Swedish massage (massage combined with a system of active and passive exercises for the muscles and joints)

tapotement (massage in which the body is tapped rhythmically with the fingers or with short rapid movements of the sides of the hand; used to loosen mucus on the chest walls of patients with bronchitis)

Derivation:

massage (give a massage to)

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

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give a massage to

Example:

She massaged his sore back

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "massage" is one way to...):

care for; treat (provide treatment for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Did he massage his foot?

Derivation:

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

massager (someone who rubs or kneads parts of the body to stimulate circulation and promote relaxation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Example:

She rubbed down her child with a sponge

Synonyms:

knead; massage; rub down

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "massage" is one way to...):

manipulate (hold something in one's hands and move it)

"Massage" entails doing...:

rub (move over something with pressure)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

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

massager (someone who rubs or kneads parts of the body to stimulate circulation and promote relaxation)

Credits

 Context examples: 

These systems of practice include areas acupuncture, acupressure, herbal applications, massage, diet, and exercises.

(Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, NCI Thesaurus)

Don't rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.

(Frostbite, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Oriental medicine includes acupuncture, diet, herbal therapy, meditation, physical exercise, and massage.

(Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, NCI Dictionary)

Complementary medicine includes acupuncture, dietary supplements, massage therapy, hypnosis, and meditation.

(Complementary medicine, NCI Dictionary)

Almond oil is typically used as a skin emollient and for massage.

(Almond Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

Conservative procedures such as reduction of a luxated joint, including physiotherapy such as chiropractic treatment, massage, balneotherapy, acupuncture, shiatsu.

(Defined Procedure, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

Alternative medicine includes treatments and practices such as acupuncture, holistic medicine, homeopathy, ayurveda, Chinese medicine, massage therapy, herbal therapy, and biofeedback.

(Alternative Medical Procedure, NCI Thesaurus)

It's simply massage.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A drugless system of therapy, making use of physical forces such as air, light, water, heat, massage, etc. Treatments are often diet- and nutrition-oriented with attention given to the patient's personal history and lifestyle.

(Naturopathy Therapy, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

EXAMPLE(S): Procedures may involve the disruption of some body surface (e.g. an incision in a surgical procedure) conservative procedures such as reduction of a luxated joint, including physiotherapy such as chiropractic treatment, massage, balneotherapy, acupuncture, shiatsu, counseling, etc.

(Performed Procedure, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)