MESSAGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does message mean? 

• MESSAGE (noun)
  The noun MESSAGE has 2 senses:

1. a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

2. what a communication that is about something is about

  Familiarity information: MESSAGE used as a noun is rare.

• MESSAGE (verb)
  The verb MESSAGE has 3 senses:

1. send a message to

2. send as a message

3. send a message

  Familiarity information: MESSAGE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MESSAGE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

he sent a three-word message

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

communication (something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups)

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

cipher; cypher (a message written in a secret code)

broadcast (message that is transmitted by radio or television)

packet ((computer science) a message or message fragment)

telegram; wire (a message transmitted by telegraph)

dedication; inscription (a short message (as in a book or musical work or on a photograph) dedicating it to someone or something)

radiogram (a message transmitted by wireless telegraphy)

phone message; telephone message (a message transmitted by telephone)

mail (the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service)

heliogram (a message transmitted by means of the sun's rays)

Sense 2

Meaning:

What a communication that is about something is about

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

content; message; subject matter; substance

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

communication (something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups)

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

disapproval (the expression of disapproval)

shocker (a sensational message (in a film or play or novel))

respects ((often used with 'pay') a formal expression of esteem)

discourtesy; disrespect (an expression of lack of respect)

insertion; interpolation (a message (spoken or written) that is introduced or inserted)

statement (a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc)

statement (a nonverbal message)

humor; humour; wit; witticism; wittiness (a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter)

opinion; view (a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof)

direction; instruction (a message describing how something is to be done)

proposal (something proposed (such as a plan or assumption))

offer; offering (something offered (as a proposal or bid))

entry; submission (something (manuscripts or architectural plans and models or estimates or works of art of all genres etc.) submitted for the judgment of others (as in a competition))

narration; narrative; story; tale (a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program)

packaging; promo; promotion; promotional material; publicity (a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea or person or institution)

sensationalism (subject matter that is calculated to excite and please vulgar tastes)

import; meaning; significance; signification (the message that is intended or expressed or signified)

body (the central message of a communication)

corker ((dated slang) a remarkable or excellent thing or person)

reminder (a message that helps you remember something)

petition; postulation; request (a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority)

memorial (a written statement of facts submitted in conjunction with a petition to an authority)

latent content ((psychoanalysis) hidden meaning of a fantasy or dream)

subject; theme; topic (the subject matter of a conversation or discussion)

aside; digression; divagation; excursus; parenthesis (a message that departs from the main subject)

approval; commendation (a message expressing a favorable opinion)

bunk; hokum; meaninglessness; nonsense; nonsensicality (a message that seems to convey no meaning)

drivel; garbage (a worthless message)

acknowledgement; acknowledgment (a statement acknowledging something or someone)

refusal (a message refusing to accept something that is offered)

info; information (a message received and understood)

counsel; counseling; counselling; direction; guidance (something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action)

commitment; dedication (a message that makes a pledge)

• MESSAGE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they message    ... he / she / it messages   
Past simple: messaged   
Past participle: messaged   
-ing form: messaging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Send a message to

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

She messaged the committee

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

communicate; pass; pass along; pass on; put across (transmit information)

Verb group:

message (send as a message)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Send as a message

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

She messaged the final report by fax

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

communicate; pass; pass along; pass on; put across (transmit information)

Verb group:

message (send a message)

message (send a message to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Send a message

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

There is no messaging service at this company

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

communicate (be in verbal contact; interchange information or ideas)

Verb group:

message (send as a message)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

He was to have a message even if she were not reported, so that he might be sure that there was a watch being kept at the other end of the wire.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Custirsen inhibits testosterone-repressed prostate message-2 (TRPM-2).

(Custirsen sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

A device designed to convert a coded signal or message to an uncoded version.

(Decoder Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying how the notification message is to be delivered.

(Defined Notification Delivery Mechanism Code, NCI Thesaurus)

An administrative activity defined at the global library level that represents the communication of a message to a recipient.

(Defined Notification, NCI Thesaurus)

Multiple messages for this gene result from multiple polyadenylation signals, a feature shared by most of the other collagen genes.

(Collagen I (Alpha 2), NCI Thesaurus/LocusLink)

He opened the yellow envelope, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had so many letters now that I could proceed with considerable confidence to the second message.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

These neurons transmit messages from your brain and spinal cord to your voluntary muscles - the ones you can control, like in your arms and legs.

(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.

(Call, NCI Thesaurus)