message
In {object-oriented programming} sending a message to an
{object} (to invoke a {method}) is equivalent to calling a
{procedure} in traditional programming languages, except that
the actual code executed may only be selected at run-time
depending on the {class} of the object. Thus, in response to
the message "drawSelf", the method code invoked would be
different if the target object were a circle or a square.
(1995-02-16)