massagea treatment consisting of rubbing and kneading the body to increase suppleness and relieve tension; to manipulate data to produce a desired result: massage the figuresNot to be confused with:message ? a communication sent by mail, e-mail, messenger, telephone, etc.; an official communication; a prophetic pronouncement: That cough is a message that your cold is getting worse.Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreemas·sage (m?-säzh?, -säj?)n.1. a. The therapeutic manipulation of body tissues by a trained practitioner, as by systematic stroking, kneading, or application of pressure, to effect a beneficial physiological response such as pain reduction or improved circulation.b. An act or instance of the therapeutic manipulation of body tissues. Also called therapeutic massage.2. a. The rubbing or kneading of parts of the body to relax the muscles, aid circulation, or provide sensual pleasure.b. An act or instance of such rubbing or kneading.3. a. The manipulation of the genitals or other body tissues for sexual arousal; erotic massage.b. An act or instance of erotic massage.c. Illicit sexual services provided under the guise of therapeutic massage.tr.v. mas·saged, mas·sag·ing, mas·sag·es 1. To give a massage to.2. To treat by means of a massage.3. To coddle or cajole.4. To manipulate (data, for example): Pollsters massaged the numbers to favor their candidate.[French, from masser, to massage, from Arabic masa?a, to stroke, anoint; see m?? in Semitic roots or massa, to touch; see m?? in Semitic roots.]mas·sag?er n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.massage (?mæs???; -s??d?) n (Medicine) the act of kneading, rubbing, etc, parts of the body to promote circulation, suppleness, or relaxationvb (tr) 1. (Medicine) to give a massage to2. (Medicine) to treat (stiffness, aches, etc) by a massage3. to manipulate (statistics, data, etc) so that they appear to support a particular interpretation or to be better than they are; doctor4. massage someone’s ego to boost someone’s sense of self-esteem by flattery[C19: from French, from masser to rub; see mass] ?massager, ?massagist nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014mas?sage (m??s??, -?s?d?; esp. Brit. ?mæs ??) n., v. -saged, -sag?ing. n. 1. the act or skill of treating the body by rubbing, patting, or the like, as to stimulate circulation or relieve tension. v.t. 2. to treat by massage. 3. to cajole; flatter. 4. to manipulate so as to produce a desired result: to massage data. [1875?80;