ma|nipu|la|tive /mən I pjʊlət I v/ ADJ If you describe someone as manipulative , you disapprove of them because they skilfully force or persuade people to act in the way that they want. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He described Mr Long as cold, calculating and manipulative.
ma|nipu|la|tor /mən I pjʊle I tə r / (manipulators ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a manipulator , you mean that they skilfully control events, situations, or people, often in a way that other people disapprove of. □ Jean Brodie is a manipulator. She cons everybody.
man|kind /mæ nka I nd/ N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to all human beings as mankind when considering them as a group. Some people dislike this use. □ …the evolution of mankind.
man|ly /mæ nli/ (manlier , manliest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a man's behaviour or appearance as manly , you approve of it because it shows qualities that are considered typical of a man, such as strength or courage. [APPROVAL ] □ He was the ideal of manly beauty. ● man|li|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ He has no doubts about his manliness.
ma n-ma de ADJ Man-made things are created or caused by people, rather than occurring naturally. □ Man-made and natural disasters have disrupted the Government's economic plans. □ …a variety of materials, both natural and man-made.
ma n ma n|age|ment N‑UNCOUNT Man management involves controlling and organizing the people who work in a business or organization. [BUSINESS ] □ Team captains need to have effective man-management skills.
man|na /mæ nə/ PHRASE If you say that something unexpected is manna from heaven , you mean that it is good and happened just at the time that it was needed. □ Ex-forces personnel could be the manna from heaven employers are seeking.
manned /mæ nd/
1 ADJ A manned vehicle such as a spacecraft has people in it who are operating its controls. □ In thirty years from now the United States should have a manned spacecraft on Mars.
2 → see also man
man|ne|quin /mæ n I k I n/ (mannequins ) N‑COUNT A mannequin is a life-sized model of a person which is used to display clothes, especially in shop windows. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
man|ner ◆◇◇ /mæ nə r / (manners )
1 N‑SING The manner in which you do something is the way that you do it. □ She smiled again in a friendly manner. □ I'm a professional and I have to conduct myself in a professional manner. □ The manner in which young children are spoken to varies depending on who is present.
2 N‑SING [usu poss N ] Someone's manner is the way in which they behave and talk when they are with other people, for example whether they are polite, confident, or bad-tempered. □ His manner was self-assured and brusque. ● -mannered COMB □ Forrest was normally mild-mannered, affable, and untalkative. □ The British are considered ill-mannered, badly dressed and unsophisticated.
3 N‑PLURAL If someone has good manners , they are polite and observe social customs. If someone has bad manners , they are impolite and do not observe these customs. □ He dressed well and had impeccable manners. □ They taught him his manners.
4 → see also bedside manner , table manners
5 PHRASE If you refer to all manner of objects or people, you are talking about objects or people of many different kinds. □ Mr Winchester is impressively knowledgeable about all manner of things.
6 PHRASE You say in a manner of speaking to indicate that what you have just said is true, but not absolutely or exactly true. [VAGUENESS ] □ An attorney is your employee, in a manner of speaking. SYNONYMS manner NOUN 1
style: Sam celebrated in fine style.
way: Freezing isn't a bad way of preserving food.
fashion: There is another drug called DHE that works in a similar fashion.
method: The pill is the most efficient method of birth control.
means: The move is a means to fight crime.
man|nered /mæ nə r d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone's behaviour or a work of art as mannered , you dislike it because it is elaborate or formal, and therefore seems false or artificial. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …Naomi's mannered voice. □ If you arrange your picture too systematically, the results can look very mannered.
2 ADJ Mannered behaviour is polite and observes social customs. □ Its intention is to restore pride in the past and create a more mannered society.
man|ner|ism /mæ nər I zəm/ (mannerisms ) N‑COUNT Someone's mannerisms are the gestures or ways of speaking which are very characteristic of them, and which they often use. □ His mannerisms are more those of a preoccupied math professor.
man|nish /mæ n I ʃ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a woman's appearance or behaviour as mannish , you mean it is more like a man's appearance or behaviour than a woman's. □ She shook hands in a mannish way, her grip dry and firm. □ …a mannish trouser suit.
ma|noeu|vrable /mənuː vərəb ə l/ in AM, use maneuverable ADJ Something that is manoeuvrable can be easily moved into different positions. □ Ferries are very powerful and manoeuvrable compared to cargo ships. □ …the light, manoeuvrable cart.
ma|noeu|vre /mənuː və r / (manoeuvres , manoeuvring , manoeuvred ) in AM, use maneuver 1 VERB If you manoeuvre something into or out of an awkward position, you skilfully move it there. □ [V n adv/prep] We attempted to manoeuvre the canoe closer to him. □ I manoeuvred my way among the tables to the back corner of the place. □ [V ] The pilot instinctively maneuvered to avoid them. ● N‑VAR Manoeuvre is also a noun. □ …a ship capable of high speed and rapid manoeuvre.