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effleurage

Definition of effleurage

noun

[mass noun]
  • a form of massage involving a repeated circular stroking movement made with the palm of the hand.

verb

[with object]
  • massage with a circular stroking movement:effleurage the shoulders and press gently

Origin:

late 19th century: from French, from effleurer 'skim the surface, stroke lightly', literally 'remove the flower or ‘outer beauty’ of something'

effleurage in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of effleurage in the US English dictionary
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