First Known Use: 1834
Dictionary
manipulate
verb ma·nip·u·late \mə-ˈni-pyə-ˌlāt\
: to move or control (something) with your hands or by using a machine
medical : to move (muscles and bones) with your hands as a form of treatment
: to use or change (numbers, information, etc.) in a skillful way or for a particular purpose
ma·nip·u·lat·edma·nip·u·lat·ing
Full Definition of MANIPULATE
transitive verb
1
: to treat or operate with or as if with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skillful manner
2
a : to manage or utilize skillfully b : to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage
3
: to change by artful or unfair means so as to serve one's purpose : doctor
— ma·nip·u·lat·able \-ˌlā-tə-bəl\ adjective
— ma·nip·u·la·tion \-ˌni-pyə-ˈlā-shən\ noun
— ma·nip·u·la·tive \-ˈni-pyə-ˌlā-tiv, -lə-\ adjective
— ma·nip·u·la·tive·ly adverb
— ma·nip·u·la·tive·ness noun
— ma·nip·u·la·tor \-ˌlā-tər\ noun
— ma·nip·u·la·to·ry \-lə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-\ adjective
See manipulate defined for English-language learners
See manipulate defined for kids
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Origin of MANIPULATE
back-formation from manipulation, from French, from manipuler to handle an apparatus in chemistry, ultimately from Latin manipulus
Related to MANIPULATE
- Synonyms
- exploit, play (upon)
Rhymes with MANIPULATE
abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
MANIPULATIVE Defined for Kids
manipulate
verb ma·nip·u·late \mə-ˈni-pyə-ˌlāt\
ma·nip·u·lat·edma·nip·u·lat·ing
Definition of MANIPULATE for Kids
1
: to operate, use, or move with the hands or by mechanical means <She learned to manipulate the levers of the machine.>
2
: to manage skillfully and especially with intent to deceive <The candidates tried to manipulate public opinion.>
Medical Dictionary
manipulate
transitive verb ma·nip·u·late \mə-ˈnip-yə-ˌlāt\
ma·nip·u·lat·edma·nip·u·lat·ing
Medical Definition of MANIPULATE
1
: to treat or operate with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skillful manner <manipulate the fragments of a broken bone into correct position>
2
a : to manage or utilize skillfully b : to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one's own advantage
—ma·nip·u·la·tive \-ˈnip-yə-ˌlāt-iv, -lət-\ adjective
—ma·nip·u·la·tive·ness noun
Learn More About MANIPULATE
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