¹manual

adjective man·u·al \ˈman-yə-wəl, -yəl, -yü-əl\

: doing or involving hard physical work

: of or relating to using the hands

: operated or controlled with the hands or by a person : operated only with the hands and without electric power

Full Definition of MANUAL

a : of, relating to, or involving the hands <manual dexterity>

b : worked or done by hand and not by machine <a manual transmission> <manual computation> <manual indexing>

: requiring or using physical skill and energy <manual labor> <manual workers>

— man·u·al·ly adverb

See manual defined for English-language learners

See manual defined for kids

Origin of MANUAL

Middle English manuel, from Anglo-French, from Latin manualis, from manus hand; akin to Old English mund hand and perhaps to Greek marē hand

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with MANUAL

annual

²manual

noun

: a small book that gives useful information about something

: a vehicle that has a system for changing gears that has to be operated by the driver : a car with a manual transmission

Full Definition of MANUAL

: a book that is conveniently handled; especially : handbook <an instruction manual>

: the prescribed movements in the handling of a weapon or other military item during a drill or ceremony <the manual of arms>

a : a keyboard for the hands; specifically : one of the several keyboards of an organ or harpsichord that controls a separate division of the instrument

b : a device or apparatus intended for manual operation

See manual defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of MANUAL

15th century

Related to MANUAL

Synonyms: handbook, textbook, primer, text

MANUAL Defined for Kids

¹manual

adjective man·u·al \ˈman-yə-wəl\

Definition of MANUAL for Kids

: of or relating to hard physical work <manual labor>

: operated by the hands <a manual gearshift>

: of or with the hands <manual skill>

— man·u·al·ly adverb

²manual

noun

Definition of MANUAL for Kids

: handbook <a scout manual>

Medical Dictionary

manual

adjective man·u·al \ˈman-yə(-wə)l\

Medical Definition of MANUAL

a : of, relating to, or involving the hands <manual dexterity> b : done or performed by hand and not by machine <manual removal of nits and lice—Jerome Potts>

: using signs and the manual alphabet in teaching the deaf—compare oral 2