maneuver

[muh-noo-ver] /məˈnu vər/
noun
1.
a planned and regulated movement or evolution of troops, warships, etc.
2.
maneuvers, a series of tactical exercises usually carried out in the field by large bodies of troops in simulating the conditions of war.
3.
an act or instance of changing the direction of a moving ship, vehicle, etc., as required.
4.
an adroit move, skillful proceeding, etc., especially as characterized by craftiness; ploy:
political maneuvers.
verb (used with object), maneuvered, maneuvering.
5.
to change the position of (troops, ships, etc.) by a maneuver.
6.
to bring, put, drive, or make by maneuvers:
He maneuvered his way into the confidence of the enemy.
7.
to manipulate or manage with skill or adroitness:
to maneuver a conversation.
8.
to steer in various directions as required.
verb (used without object), maneuvered, maneuvering.
9.
to perform a maneuver or maneuvers.
10.
to scheme; intrigue.
Also, especially British, manoeuvre.
Origin
1470-80 for an earlier sense; 1750-60 for current noun sense; < French manoeuvre, Middle French manuevre handwork, derivative of Old French manuvrer < Latin manū operāre to do handwork, equivalent to manū (ablative of manus hand) + operāre to work (see operate); replacing earlier maanorre manual labor < Middle French, as above
Related forms
maneuverable, adjective
maneuverability, noun
maneuverer, noun
unmaneuvered, adjective
Synonyms
4. stratagem, tactic, ruse, artifice; procedure, scheme, plot, plan. 6. scheme, contrive, intrigue. 7. handle, finesse. 10. plot, plan.
Examples from the web for maneuver
  • If all goes to plan, it will be the first spacecraft to maneuver without fuel.
  • On the way, its aim is refined by a mid-course correction maneuver.
  • She attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself but it didn't work.
  • Making a really good hot chocolate without any of these wasn't, at least to me, an obvious maneuver.
  • Training for war isn't all field maneuvers.
  • For example, the map could alert them to roadblocks to maneuver around.
  • Evidently, such a maneuver is technically interesting but it hardly addresses a significant or urgent problem.
  • Sometimes, the player will make the cue ball jump over an obstructive ball, always a stirring maneuver.
  • Positional vertigo episodes are caused by an inner ear disorder that's treatable by manual maneuver of the head.
  • Polemen stationed along the gunwales do most of the steering in quiet waters; the sweeps are used to help maneuver through rapids.
British Dictionary definitions for maneuver

maneuver

/məˈnuːvə/
noun, verb
1.
the usual US spelling of manoeuvre
Derived Forms
maneuverable, adjective
maneuverability, noun
maneuverer, noun
maneuvering, noun

manoeuvre

/məˈnuːvə/
noun
1.
a contrived, complicated, and possibly deceptive plan or action: political manoeuvres
2.
a movement or action requiring dexterity and skill
3.
  1. a tactic or movement of one or a number of military or naval units
  2. (pl) tactical exercises, usually on a large scale
4.
a planned movement of an aircraft in flight
5.
any change from the straight steady course of a ship
verb
6.
(transitive) to contrive or accomplish with skill or cunning
7.
(intransitive) to manipulate situations, etc, in order to gain some end: to manoeuvre for the leadership
8.
(intransitive) to perform a manoeuvre or manoeuvres
9.
to move or deploy or be moved or deployed, as military units, etc
Derived Forms
manoeuvrable, (US) maneuverable, adjective
manoeuvrability, (US) maneuverability, noun
manoeuvrer, (US) maneuverer, noun
manoeuvring, (US) maneuvering, noun
Word Origin
C15: from French, from Medieval Latin manuopera manual work, from Latin manū operāre to work with the hand
Word Origin and History for maneuver
n.

"planned movement of troops or warship," 1758, from French manoeuvre "manipulation, maneuver," from Old French manovre "manual labor" 13c.), from Medieval Latin manuopera (source of Spanish maniobra, Italian manovra), from manuoperare "work with the hands," from Latin manu operari, from manu, ablative of manus "hand" (see manual (adj.)) + operari "to work, operate" (see operation). The same word had been borrowed from French into Middle English in a sense "hand-labor" (late 15c.). General meaning "artful plan, adroit movement" is from 1774. Related: Maneuvers.

v.

1777, from maneuver (n.), or else from French manœurvrer "work, work with one's hands; carry out, prepare" (12c.), from Medieval Latin manuoperare. Originally in a military sense. Figurative use from 1801. Related: Maneuvered; maneuvering.

maneuver in Medicine

maneuver ma·neu·ver (mə-nōō'vər, -nyōō'-)
n.
A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity. v. ma·neu·vered, ma·neu·ver·ing, ma·neu·vers
To manipulate into a desired position or toward a predetermined goal.