manipulate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb influence or control shrewdly or deviously
    pull wires; pull strings.
    • He manipulated public opinion in his favor
  2. verb hold something in one's hands and move it
  3. verb tamper, with the purpose of deception
    wangle; fake; cook; misrepresent; fudge; falsify.
    • Fudge the figures
    • cook the books
    • falsify the data
  4. verb manipulate in a fraudulent manner
    rig.
    • rig prices
  5. verb control (others or oneself) or influence skillfully, usually to one's advantage
    keep in line; control.
    • She manipulates her boss
    • She is a very controlling mother and doesn't let her children grow up
    • The teacher knew how to keep the class in line
    • she keeps in line
  6. verb treat manually, as with massage, for therapeutic purposed

WordNet


Ma*nip"u*late transitive verb
Etymology
LL. manipulatus, p. p. of manipulare to lead by the hand, fr. L. manipulus. See Maniple.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Manipulated ; present participle & verbal noun Manipulating
Definitions
  1. To treat, work, or operate with the hands, especially when knowledge and dexterity are required; to manage in hand work; to handle; as, to manipulate scientific apparatus.
  2. To control the action of, by management; as, to manipulate a convention of delegates; to manipulate the stock market; also, to manage artfully or fraudulently; as, to manipulate accounts, or election returns.
Ma*nip"u*late intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To use the hands in dexterous operations; to do hand work; specifically, to manage the apparatus or instruments used in scientific work, or in artistic or mechanical processes; also, specifically, to use the hand in mesmeric operations.

Webster 1913