- To move, arrange, operate, or control by the hands or by mechanical means, especially in a skillful manner: She manipulated the lights to get just the effect she wanted.
- To influence or manage shrewdly or deviously: He manipulated public opinion in his favor.
- To tamper with or falsify for personal gain: tried to manipulate stock prices.
- Medicine. To handle and move in an examination or for therapeutic purposes: manipulate a joint; manipulate the position of a fetus during delivery.
[Back-formation from MANIPULATION.]
manipulability ma·nip'u·la·bil'i·ty n.manipulatable ma·nip'u·lat'a·ble adj.
manipulator ma·nip'u·la'tor n.
manipulatory ma·nip'u·la·to'ry (-lə-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj.
SYNONYMS manipulate, exploit, maneuver. These verbs mean to influence, manage, use, or control to one's advantage by artful or indirect means: manipulated me into helping him; exploits natural resources; maneuvered me out of one job and into another. See also synonyms at handle.





