( BrE ) ( NAmE man·eu·ver ) / məˈnuːvə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a movement performed with care and skill :
a complicated / skilful manoeuvre
You will be asked to perform some standard manoeuvres during your driving test.
2.
[ C , U ] a clever plan, action or movement that is used to give sb an advantage
SYN move :
diplomatic manoeuvres
a complex manoeuvre in a game of chess
3.
manoeuvres [ pl. ] military exercises involving a large number of soldiers, ships, etc. :
The army is on manoeuvres in the desert.
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IDIOMS
- freedom of / room for manoeuvre
■ verb
1.
to move or turn skilfully or carefully; to move or turn sth skilfully or carefully :
[ v ]
The yachts manoeuvred for position.
There was very little room to manoeuvre.
[ vn ]
She manoeuvred the car carefully into the garage.
2.
to control or influence a situation in a skilful but sometimes dishonest way :
[ v ]
The new laws have left us little room to manoeuvre (= not much opportunity to change or influence a situation) .
[ vn + adv. / prep. ]
She manoeuvred her way to the top of the company.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 18th cent. (as a noun in the sense tactical movement ): from French manœuvre (noun), manœuvrer (verb), from medieval Latin manuoperare from Latin manus hand + operari to work.