manoeuvre

[muh-noo-ver]

noun, verb (used with or without object), ma·noeu·vred, ma·noeu·vring.

Chiefly British. maneuver.

Nearby words

maneuver

[muh-noo-ver]

noun

a planned and regulated movement or evolution of troops, warships, etc.

maneuvers, a series of tactical exercises usually carried out in the field by large bodies of troops in simulating the conditions of war.

an act or instance of changing the direction of a moving ship, vehicle, etc., as required.

an adroit move, skillful proceeding, etc., especially as characterized by craftiness; ploy: political maneuvers.

verb (used with object), ma·neu·vered, ma·neu·ver·ing.

to change the position of (troops, ships, etc.) by a maneuver.

to bring, put, drive, or make by maneuvers: He maneuvered his way into the confidence of the enemy.

to manipulate or manage with skill or adroitness: to maneuver a conversation.

to steer in various directions as required.

verb (used without object), ma·neu·vered, ma·neu·ver·ing.

to perform a maneuver or maneuvers.

to scheme; intrigue.

Also especially British, ma·noeu·vre.

Origin of maneuver

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

SYNONYMS FOR maneuver

4. stratagem, tactic, ruse, artifice; procedure, scheme, plot, plan. 6. scheme, contrive, intrigue. 7. handle, finesse. 10. plot, plan.

Related formsma·neu·ver·a·ble, adjectivema·neu·ver·a·bil·i·ty, nounma·neu·ver·er, nounun·ma·neu·vered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for manoeuvre

Rather than higher inflation, tumbling oil prices point to reduced price pressure and more room for manoeuvre for central bankers.
So About That QE3 Driven Inflation...|David Frum|September 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The first manoeuvre of the French army disconcerted the plans of the Mamelukes; still they continued to charge.
Military Career of Napoleon the Great|Montgomery B. Gibbs
He delayed the manoeuvre to the last moment, however, for what he deemed to be sufficient reasons.
Homeward Bound|James Fenimore Cooper
Sir William Howe continued to manoeuvre towards the flank, and in front of the left wing of the American army.
The Life of George Washington, Vol. 2 (of 5)|John Marshall

The manoeuvre was so successful that it was repeated with equally satisfactory results.
The Strange Adventures of Eric Blackburn|Harry Collingwood
Now to fancy that I was capable of suspecting you of such a manoeuvre!
The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846|Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett

British Dictionary definitions for manoeuvre

manoeuvre

US maneuver

noun

a contrived, complicated, and possibly deceptive plan or actionpolitical manoeuvres

a movement or action requiring dexterity and skill

a tactic or movement of one or a number of military or naval units
(plural)tactical exercises, usually on a large scale

a planned movement of an aircraft in flight

any change from the straight steady course of a ship

verb

(tr) to contrive or accomplish with skill or cunning

(intr) to manipulate situations, etc, in order to gain some endto manoeuvre for the leadership

(intr) to perform a manoeuvre or manoeuvres

to move or deploy or be moved or deployed, as military units, etc

Derived Formsmanoeuvrable or US maneuverable, adjectivemanoeuvrability or US maneuverability, nounmanoeuvrer or US maneuverer, nounmanoeuvring or US maneuvering, noun

Word Origin for manoeuvre

C15: from French, from Medieval Latin manuopera manual work, from Latin manū operāre to work with the hand

maneuver

noun, verb

the usual US spelling of manoeuvre

Derived Formsmaneuverable, adjectivemaneuverability, nounmaneuverer, nounmaneuvering, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for manoeuvre

manoeuvre

also manoeuver, alternative spelling of maneuver. Also see oe; -re. Related: manoeuvres; manoeuvred; manoeuvring.

maneuver

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

"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.

Medicine definitions for manoeuvre

maneuver

[mə-nōō′vər]

n.

A movement or procedure involving skill and dexterity.

v.

To manipulate into a desired position or toward a predetermined goal.