Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A usually short communication transmitted by words, signals, or other means from one person, station, or group to another.
  • noun The substance of such a communication; the point or points conveyed.
  • noun A statement made or read before a gathering.
  • noun A basic thesis or lesson; a moral.
  • intransitive verb To send a message to.
  • intransitive verb To send as a message.
  • intransitive verb To send a message; communicate.
  • idiom (off message) Deviating from a planned set of remarks or positions.
  • idiom (on message) Following a planned set of remarks or positions.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To deliver in the manner of a messenger; announce.
  • noun A communication transmitted; a notice sent; information or opinion or advice communicated through a messenger or other agency: as, a verbal or written message; a telegraphic message.
  • noun In United States politics, an official communication of information, opinion, or advice from a chief executive to a legislative body, or a formal statement of matters requiring legislative consideration or action, sent by the hands of a messenger: as, the President's or governor's message; an annual or a special message (that is, the message regularly presented at the opening of an annual legislative session, or one relating to some special matter subsequently arising).
  • noun A company of messengers; an embassy.
  • noun A messenger.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun obsolete A messenger.
  • noun Any notice, word, or communication, written or verbal, sent from one person to another.
  • noun Hence, specifically, an official communication, not made in person, but delivered by a messenger.
  • noun See Shell.
  • transitive verb obsolete To bear as a message.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A communication, or what is communicated; any concept or information conveyed.
  • noun An underlying theme or conclusion to be drawn from something.
  • noun A text message
  • noun An instant message
  • noun An email
  • verb To send a message to; to transmit a message to, e.g. as text via a cell phone.
  • verb To send (something) as a message; usually refers to electronic messaging.
  • verb intransitive To send a message or messages; to be capable of sending messages.
  • verb obsolete To bear as a message.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb send a message to
  • noun what a communication that is about something is about
  • verb send as a message
  • noun a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
  • verb send a message

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin missāticum, from Latin missus, past participle of mittere, to send.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old French, from Late Latin missaticum, from Latin mittere, missum ("to send").

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word message.

Examples

  • Do we really need an an automated message *after our own message* saying, “at the tone, please record your…blah blah blah”?

    To Leave a Callback Number, Press 5… | Motivational Humor from the Motivational Smart Ass! 2008

  • At a recent event, DLC leaders were asked about the Democratic message in 2006; they replied that the “events and the economy will determine the outcome, ” therefore Dems needed no “message” at present.

    Printing: Busting the Clinton Ghost 2006

  • EXEC @hr = sp_OACreate 'CDO. Message', @message OUT -- create the message object

    ASP.NET Forums 2009

  • * Add backtrace message for debugging function add_backtrace ($message) if ($this - > backtrace) $this - > backtrace_log [] = utf8_htmlspecialchars ($message);

    phpBB.com 2009

  • $_POST [ "from"]; $subject = $_POST [ "subject"]; $message = $_POST [ "message"]; To specify from whom the e-mail is coming, use the optional fourth parameter for the mail () function, headers.

    Recently Uploaded Slideshows Bravo77 2009

  • * Add backtrace message for debugging function add_backtrace ($message) if ($this - > backtrace) $this - > backtrace_log [] = utf8_htmlspecialchars ($message);

    phpBB.com 2009

  • EXEC @hr = sp_OACreate 'CDO. Message', @message OUT -- create the message object

    ASP.NET Forums 2009

  • You then send a message to your customer using $message to confirm the action they requested and show them the current contents of the cart.

    Recently Uploaded Slideshows Bravo77 2009

  • What is the difference between $message and $$message?

    unknown title 2008

  • What is the difference between $message and $$message?

    unknown title 2008

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • This word make communication sound so... messy.

    September 4, 2008

  • Take it or leave it. (NYT X-word puzzle clue/answer)

    April 21, 2011