Definition of "massage" []

• The rubbing or kneading of parts of the body especially to aid circulation, relax the muscles, or provide sensual stimulation. (noun)
• An act or instance of such rubbing or kneading. (noun)
• To give a massage to. (verb-transitive)
• To treat by means of a massage. (verb-transitive)
• To coddle or cajole. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Had the word massage existed at the time, speakers of English would no doubt have employed it instead to explain what they had seen or experienced."
• "When you examine the listings for various clinics and spas you can see that the term massage covers a large variety of styles of bodywork."
• "Partly, I do it because I am curious and because I feel like I need to understand the latest and greatest in health and healing -- and massage is right up there for me."