Manipulate Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of MANIPULATE

[+ object]

1

a

:

to move or control (something) with your hands or by using a machine

• manipulate a pencil
• The baby is learning to manipulate blocks.
• manipulate a computer mouse
• The mechanical arms are manipulated by a computer.

b

medical

:

to move (muscles and bones) with your hands as a form of treatment

• The doctor manipulated my back/spine.

2

:

to use or change (numbers, information, etc.) in a skillful way or for a particular purpose

• The program was designed to organize and manipulate large amounts of data.
• He's always been good at manipulating numbers in his head.
• As part of the experiment, students manipulated light and temperature to see how it affected the plants.

3

usually disapproving

a

:

to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way

• She knows how to manipulate her parents to get what she wants.
• He felt that he had been manipulated by the people he trusted most.
• The editorial was a blatant attempt to manipulate public opinion.

b

:

to change (something) in an unfair or selfish way

• He's accused of trying to manipulate the price of the stock.
• The company manipulated its accounts to exaggerate its profits.

— manipulation

/məˌnɪpjəˈleɪʃən/

noun,

plural

manipulations

[count]

• price manipulations

[noncount]

• trying to control the election through blatant manipulation of public opinion
• her shameless manipulation of her parents