maneuver

¹ma·neu·ver

noun \mə-ˈnü-vər, -ˈnyü-\

Definition of MANEUVER

1

a : a military or naval movement

b : an armed forces training exercise; especially : an extended and large-scale training exercise involving military and naval units separately or in combination —often used in plural

2

: a procedure or method of working usually involving expert physical movement

3

a : evasive movement or shift of tactics

b : an intended and controlled variation from a straight and level flight path in the operation of an airplane

4

a : an action taken to gain a tactical end

b : an adroit and clever management of affairs often using trickery and deception

Examples of MANEUVER

1. With a quick maneuver, she avoided an accident.
2. Through a series of legal maneuvers, the defense lawyer kept her client out of jail.
3. He led his troops in a well-planned maneuver.
4. To prepare for war, the army is performing maneuvers off the coast.
5. The army is on maneuvers.

Origin of MANEUVER

French manœuvre, from Old French maneuvre work done by hand, from Medieval Latin manuopera, from manu operare to perform manual labor — more at manure

First Known Use: 1758

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

Rhymes with MANEUVER

earthmover, improver, prime mover, remover, reprover

²maneuver

verb

ma·neu·veredma·neu·ver·ing \-ˈnü-və-riŋ, -ˈnyü-; -ˈn(y)üv-riŋ\

Definition of MANEUVER

intransitive verb

1

a : to perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage

b : to make a series of changes in direction and position for a specific purpose

2

: to use stratagems : scheme

transitive verb

1

: to cause to execute tactical movements

2

: to manage into or out of a position or condition : manipulate

3

a : to guide with adroitness and design

b : to bring about or secure as a result of skillful management

— ma·neu·ver·abil·i·ty \-ˌnü-və-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē, -ˌnyü-; -ˌn(y)üv-rə-\ noun

— ma·neu·ver·able \-ˈnü-və-rə-bəl, -ˈnyü-; -ˈn(y)üv-rə-\ adjective

— ma·neu·ver·er \-ˈnü-vər-ər, -ˈnyü-\ noun

Examples of MANEUVER

1. She maneuvered her car into the tiny garage.
2. It took seven people to maneuver the tiger out of its cage.
3. We had a hard time maneuvering our furniture through the doorway.
4. The giant ships maneuvered into their docks.
5. The vehicle easily maneuvered through rocky terrain.
6. They held hands while maneuvering through the crowd.
7. The companies are maneuvering for position in the limited market.
8. Somehow, she always manages to maneuver herself out of difficult situations.
9. We maneuvered our troops to the south.
10. The opposing forces maneuvered quickly.

First Known Use of MANEUVER

1777

Related to MANEUVER

Synonyms

address, contend (with), cope (with), field, grapple (with), hack, manage, handle, manipulate, negotiate, play, swing, take, treat

Related Words

engineer, finesse, jockey; bring off, carry off, carry out, get off, pull; command, direct, guide, steer; control, micromanage, regulate, run; react (to), respond (to)

Near Antonyms

botch, bungle, foozle, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), mishandle, muff, scamp

ma·neu·ver

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of MANEUVER

1

: a movement, procedure, or method performed to achieve a desired result and especially to restore a normal physiological state or to promote normal function <the simplest maneuver to actuate the normal eustachian tube is to swallow—H. G. Armstrong>—see heimlich maneuver, valsalva maneuver

2

: a manipulation to accomplish a change of position; specifically : rotational or other movement applied to a fetus within the uterus to alter its position and facilitate delivery—see scanzoni maneuver

Variants of MANEUVER

ma·neu·ver or chiefly British ma·noeu·vre \mə-ˈn(y)ü-vər\ (audio pronunciation)