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manipulate

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.