v.tr. 1 handle, treat, or use, esp. skilfully (a tool, question, material, etc.). 2 manage (a person, situation, etc.) to one's own advantage, esp. unfairly or unscrupulously. 3 manually examine and treat (a part of the body). 4 Computing alter, edit, or move (text, data, etc.). 5 stimulate (the genitals). manipulable adj. manipulability n. manipulatable adj. manipulation n. manipulator n. manipulatory adj.
[ back-form. f. manipulation f. F manipulation f. mod.L manipulatio (as MANIPLE), after F manipuler ]