I. noun
also ma·noeu·vre or ma·noeu·ver məˈn(y)üvə(r)
( -s )
Etymology: French manœuvre, from Old French manuevre, maneuvre work done by hand, from Medieval Latin manuopera, manopera, from Latin manu operare to do work by hand, from manu (abl. of manus hand) + operare to work — more at manual , operate
1.
a. : a military, naval, or air force evolution, movement, or change of position ; especially : one planned or based on the position of an enemy, the relationship of the opposing forces, and factors of terrain or weather
the leisurely maneuvers and checkmate of royal mercenary armies — Stringfellow Barr
well emplaced, they sometimes proved stubborn, but when forced into an open war of maneuver , they were easily disorganized — Irwin Shaw
b. : an armed forces training exercise ; especially : an extended and large-scale training exercise involving military, naval, and air force units separately or in combination in which theoretically hostile forces engage in simulated battle
the eighty United States ships participating in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's first naval maneuver — Current Biography
— often used in plural
the Third Army turned in a magnificent performance at the Louisiana maneuvers — Green Peyton
2.
a. : a movement, procedure, or method of working usually involving skillful operation and expert physical management
the simplest maneuver to actuate the normal eustachian tube is to swallow — H.G.Armstrong
b. : 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
3.
a. : an evasive movement : a change of position or shift of tactics
because his area of maneuver seems so small … his fight lacks the heroic cast — W.W.Whyte
permits no room for concession or maneuver — Harry Schwartz
b. : an intended and controlled variation from a straight and level flight path in the operation of an aircraft
certain acrobatic maneuvers such as outside spins, inverted spins, outside loops, pushovers, and inverted flight — H.G.Armstrong
4.
a. : a management of affairs : an action taken as one of a series of actions intended to gain a tactical end
this maneuver almost cost him the nomination — H.L.Mencken
his stubborn and tactless maneuvers — A.L.Funk
b. : an adroit and clever management of affairs often using trickery and deception
unable to meet the maneuvers of the speculative railroad wrecker — W.C.Ford
Synonyms: see trick
II. verb
also manoeuvre or manoeuver “
( maneuvered ; maneuvered ; maneuvering -v(ə)riŋ ; maneuvers )
Etymology: French manœuvrer, from Old French manovrer, manuvrer to do work by hand, from Latin manu operare
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to perform a movement in military, naval, or air force tactics : make changes in position in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense
the regiment maneuvered for several days before it was ready to attack
b. : to make a series of changes in direction and position for a specific purpose (as in changing course, in switching tracks, or in docking)
a small freight train, having left some cars on the main line, is maneuvering upon the siding — G.R.Stewart
the ferry had to maneuver in order to dock
2.
a. : to use stratagems : scheme
maneuvered successfully to get him to ask her to the dance
b. : to change ground or shift tactics : jockey for position
had more freedom to maneuver than has his emancipated successor — R.M.Weaver
political parties checkmated one another and maneuvered for advantage — F.A.Ogg & Harold Zink
transitive verb
1.
a. : to change the tactical disposition of : cause to execute tactical movements
large bodies of troops were maneuvered — Survey Graphic
b. : to perform tactical or acrobatic evolutions with (an airplane)
2. : to manage or manipulate into or out of a position or condition
maneuvered him into a car — Time
maneuvered myself into being asked to play — Lloyd Alexander
maneuvered the cork out with his thumb — Kay Boyle
3.
a. : to guide or direct with adroitness and design
maneuvered her guests until the talk at the table became general — Jean Stafford
b. : to bring about or secure as a result of skillful management
maneuvered out of the Highway Commission the funds to build the state medical school — Today
• ma·neu·ver·er -v(ə)rə(r) noun -s