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massage

massage

290 2.4
The rubbing of muscles to relax the body and ease pain
  • noun
  • /məˈsɑʒ/
: masaje
  • In many modern European countries, massage therapy is covered by national health insurance.
  • massage therapy
  • a massage therapist
  • receive a massage

After that I went and I had a massage at the spa.

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Examples

  • At the ashram, we learned some massage techniques.

  • How about a nice foot massage?

  • After that I went and I had a massage at the spa.

  • And of course, massage can have many benefits throughout pregnancy.

  • They are getting a foot massage soon.

  • The students were randomly assigned to a massage therapy group or a wait-list control group.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Few researchers would dispute the short-term benefits of massage as a treatment for arthritis pain.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Other early people also used massage, including the Egyptians, Arabs, Asian Indians, and Romans.

    Academic text (2003)
  • After a long week of work, I decided to treat myself to a relaxing massage to ease my tension.

  • Many people find a therapeutic massage helpful for relieving stress and improving their overall well-being.

Synonyms

rubbing
vsmassage
9 1.5

The action of moving one thing over another with pressure to make heat, clean, or ease pain

is limited to the human body, using kneading to relax muscles and increase circulation
rubdown
vsmassage
6 6.5

A short strong massage that helps muscles relax

is gentler and often calmer rather than vigorous
Swedish massage
vsmassage
3 3.6

A gentle body treatment using long strokes and rubbing to relax muscles

is broader, covering many techniques beyond long strokes and kneading
African massage
vsmassage
  • South African
5.2

A body treatment from Africa that uses hand movements to relax muscles

is more general and not tied to specific regional rhythmic techniques

Antonyms

94 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

Compounds

17 5.6

A business where people go to get a massage to relax or ease pain, sometimes offering illegal sexual services

A gentle body treatment using long strokes and rubbing to relax muscles

cardiac massage
  • Specialized
1 4.0

Repeated pressing on the chest to keep blood moving when the heart stops

heart massage
  • Specialized
1 3.2

Pressing the chest to make the heart pump when it stops

African massage
  • South African
5.2

A body treatment from Africa that uses hand movements to relax muscles

How Invasive

surgery
∞ 2.7
cauterization
  • Specialized
1 8.2
acupuncture
  • Specialized
39 3.9
moxibustion
  • Specialized
1 9.9
massage
290 2.4

Surface Forms

massage singular
massages plural

Etymology

Massage as a noun comes from the same French root masser 'to knead', so a massage is literally the 'kneading' of muscles to relax them and help circulation.