Short Definition
Manipulation of skin, muscle and joints (usually by hand) to relax muscle spasm, relieve tension, improve circulation and hasten elimination of wastes. It also stretches connective tissue and improves circulation.

Expanded Information
Massage is an instinctive human response that when we bump ourselves that we rub it and the 'ouch' soon goes away. This basic instinct has been slowly developed over the countless generations into a sophisticated healing art and science.

Professional therapeutic massage is an age-old healing art, which can alleviate physical, mental and emotional ailments. The practice dates to the Chinese in 3000 BC. Other references in the bible refer to anointing the body with oil. In 460 BC, Hypocrites prescribed it as a beneficial treatment for his patients.

In one form or another, it developed in all the nations of the old World. Hippocrates, who is considered a father of medicine, said that all physicians should have experience of the techniques of rubbing, It is recognised that rubbing can bind a joint that is too loose and loosen a joint that is too rigid. Furthermore, rubbing can make the flesh and cause parts to waste, it is these latter beliefs that are so important for those concerned with figure improvement. In 1813, the Royal Central Institute was established in Stockholm, Sweden, and here the known massage movements were studied scientifically and systematised. This was the most important single development in the field in modern times and it is because of this that remedial massage is often called "Swedish".

DEFINITION OF MASSAGE
Massage is a scientific method of manipulating the soft tissues of the body to have specific effect. Its objective is the restoration of function, release of tension and the re-establishment of the contours where this is desirable.

Massage Therapy is:
The holistic application of physical touch to affect the systems of the body; ie. the muscular, skeletal, digestive, elimination, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic, endocrine, emotional, mental and nervous systems.

It is the manipulation the soft tissues of the body with the hands for therapeutic, healing, relaxing and pleasurable effects.

It is the loving touch of the heart expressed through the hands.

It is not physiotherapy or any practice of manipulation of the skeletal structure.

Source: http://www.nzhealth.net.nz/massage/definition.shtml