manipulate [muh-nip-yuh-leyt] SynonymsWord Origin verb (used with object), ma·nip·u·lat·ed, ma·nip·u·lat·ing.
- to manage or influence skillfully, especially in an unfair manner: to manipulate people’s feelings.
- to handle, manage, or use, especially with skill, in some process of treatment or performance: to manipulate a large tractor.
- to adapt or change (accounts, figures, etc.) to suit one’s purpose or advantage.
- Medicine/Medical. to examine or treat by skillful use of the hands, as in palpation, reduction of dislocations, or changing the position of a fetus.
Origin of manipulate First recorded in 1820–30; back formation from manipulation Related formsma·nip·u·lat·a·ble, adjectivema·nip·u·la·to·ry [muh-nip-yuh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /məˈnɪp yə ləˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, adjectivenon·ma·nip·u·la·tive, adjectivenon·ma·nip·u·la·to·ry, adjectiveout·ma·nip·u·late, verb (used with object), out·ma·nip·u·lat·ed, out·ma·nip·u·lat·ing.un·ma·nip·u·lat·a·ble, adjectiveun·ma·nip·u·lat·ed, adjectiveun·ma·nip·u·la·tive, adjectiveun·ma·nip·u·la·to·ry, adjectiveSynonyms for manipulate 3. juggle, falsify. British Dictionary definitions for manipulatable manipulate verb
- (tr) to handle or use, esp with some skill, in a process or actionto manipulate a pair of scissors
- to negotiate, control, or influence (something or someone) cleverly, skilfully, or deviously
- to falsify (a bill, accounts, etc) for one’s own advantage
- (in physiotherapy) to examine or treat manually, as in loosening a joint
Derived Formsmanipulability (məˌnɪpjʊləˈbɪlɪtɪ), nounmanipulatable or manipulable, adjectivemanipulation, nounmanipulative, adjectivemanipulatively, adverbmanipulator, nounmanipulatory, adjectiveWord Origin for manipulate C19: back formation from manipulation, from Latin manipulus handful Word Origin and History for manipulatable manipulate v.
1827, “to handle skillfully by hand,” a back-formation from manipulation. Of mental influence, from 1864. Financial sense is from 1870. In mid-20c., it served as a euphemism for “masturbation.” Related: Manipulated; manipulating.
manipulatable in Medicine manipulate [mə-nĭp′yə-lāt′] v.
- To handle and move in an examination or for therapeutic purposes.