to handle or operate (something), esp skilfully
Children have difficulty manipulating scissors
to control, exploit, or influence by artful, unfair, or insidious means, esp to one's own advantage
to manage or use (something) skilfully
manipulate the situation
to control or influence (somebody) by artful, unfair, or insidious means, esp to one's own advantage
She saw her colleagues only in terms of how they could be manipulated
to examine and treat (a fracture, sprain, etc) by moving bones into the proper position manually
manipulability /-ləʹbiliti/ noun
manipulable adj
manipulatable adj
manipulation /-ʹlaysh(ə)n/ noun
manipulative /-lətiv/ adj
manipulator noun
manipulatory /-lət(ə)ri/ adj
[back-formation from manipulation, via French from Latin manipulus handful]