maneuver

[ muh-noo-ver ]
See synonyms for maneuver on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a planned and regulated movement or evolution of troops, warships, etc.

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

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

  2. 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.
  1. to change the position of (troops, ships, etc.) by a maneuver.

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

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

  2. to steer in various directions as required.

verb (used without object),ma·neu·vered, ma·neu·ver·ing.
  1. to perform a maneuver or maneuvers.

  2. to scheme; intrigue.

Origin of maneuver

1
First recorded in 1470–80 for an earlier sense; 1750–60 for current noun sense; from French manoeuvre, Middle French manuevre “handwork,” derivative of Old French manuvrer, from 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
  • Also especially British, ma·noeu·vre .

Other words for maneuver

Other words from maneuver

  • ma·neu·ver·a·ble, adjective
  • ma·neu·ver·a·bil·i·ty, noun
  • ma·neu·ver·er, noun
  • un·ma·neu·vered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for maneuver

maneuver

/ (məˈnuːvə) /


noun, verb
  1. the usual US spelling of manoeuvre

Derived forms of maneuver

  • maneuverable, adjective
  • maneuverability, noun
  • maneuverer, noun
  • maneuvering, 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