Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

massage

2 verb
     
Related topics: Hospital
massage2 [transitive]
1MH to press and rub someone's body with your hands, to help them relax or to reduce pain in their muscles:
Alex massaged Helena's aching back.
massage something into something
Gently massage the lotion into your skin.
2 to change official numbers or information in order to make them seem better than they are - used in order to show disapproval [= cook the books]:
Myers accused the government of deliberately massaging the unemployment figures.
3

massage somebody's ego

to try to make someone feel that they are important, attractive, intelligent etc:
The portrait painter had the power to massage the king's ego or to expose his flaws.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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