2 VERB If you manoeuvre a situation, you change it in a clever and skilful way so that you can benefit from it. □ [V n prep/adv] The authorities have to manoeuvre the markets into demanding a cut in interest rates. □ [V ] He manoeuvres to foster recovery. ● N‑COUNT Manoeuvre is also a noun. □ …manoeuvres to block the electoral process. ● man|oeuv|ring (manoeuvrings ) N‑VAR □ …his unrivalled skill in political manoeuvring. □ …his manoeuvrings on the matter of free trade.
3 N‑PLURAL Military manoeuvres are training exercises which involve the movement of soldiers and equipment over a large area. □ Allied troops begin maneuvers tomorrow.
4 room for manoeuvre → see room
man|or /mæ nə r / (manors ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] A manor is a large private house in the country, usually built in the Middle Ages, and also includes the land and smaller buildings around it. [BRIT ] □ Thieves broke into the manor at night.
ma n|or house (manor houses ) N‑COUNT A manor house is the main house that is or was on a medieval manor. [BRIT ]
man|power /mæ npaʊə r / N‑UNCOUNT Workers are sometimes referred to as manpower when they are being considered as a part of the process of producing goods or providing services. □ …the shortage of skilled manpower in the industry. □ These people do not have the equipment or the manpower to cut down the trees.
man|qué /mɒ ŋke I , [AM ] -ke I / ADJ [n ADJ ] You use manqué to describe someone who has never had the type of job indicated, although they had the ability for it or wanted it. □ …his inescapable feeling that he is a great actor manqué.
manse /mæ ns/ (manses ) N‑COUNT In some Christian churches, a manse is the house provided for a clergyman to live in. [mainly BRIT ]
man|servant /mæ nsɜː r v ə nt/ (manservants ) N‑COUNT A manservant is a man who works as a servant in a private house. [BRIT , OLD-FASHIONED ] in AM, use houseman
man|sion /mæ nʃ ə n/ (mansions ) N‑COUNT A mansion is a very large house. □ …an eighteenth century mansion in Hampshire.
man|slaughter /mæ nslɔːtə r / N‑UNCOUNT Manslaughter is the illegal killing of a person by someone who did not intend to kill them. [LEGAL ] □ A judge accepted her plea that she was guilty of manslaughter, not murder.
man|tel /mæ nt ə l/ (mantels ) N‑COUNT A mantel is a mantelpiece. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
mantel|piece /mæ nt ə lpiːs/ (mantelpieces ) also mantlepiece N‑COUNT [usu sing] A mantelpiece is a wood or stone shelf which is the top part of a border round a fireplace. □ On the mantelpiece are a pair of bronze Ming vases.
mantel|shelf /mæ nt ə lʃelf/ (mantelshelves ) also mantleshelf N‑COUNT [usu sing] A mantelshelf is a mantelpiece. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
man|tle /mæ nt ə l/ (mantles )
1 N‑SING If you take on the mantle of something such as a profession or an important job, you take on the responsibilities and duties which must be fulfilled by anyone who has this profession or job. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] Glasgow has broadened its appeal since taking on the mantle of European City of Culture in 1990.
2 N‑COUNT A mantle of something is a layer of it covering a surface, for example a layer of snow on the ground. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] The parks and squares looked grim under a mantle of soot and ash.
3 → see also mantel
mantle|piece /mæ nt ə lpiːs/ → see mantelpiece
ma n-to-ma n → see man
man|tra /mæ ntrə/ (mantras )
1 N‑COUNT A mantra is a word or phrase repeated by Buddhists and Hindus when they meditate, or to help them feel calm.
2 N‑COUNT You can use mantra to refer to a statement or a principle that people repeat very often because they think it is true, especially when you think that it not true or is only part of the truth. □ [+ of ] Listening to customers is now part of the mantra of new management in public services.
manu|al /mæ njuəl/ (manuals )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Manual work is work in which you use your hands or your physical strength rather than your mind. □ …skilled manual workers. □ They have no reservations about taking factory or manual jobs.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Manual is used to talk about movements which are made by someone's hands. [FORMAL ] □ …toys designed to help develop manual dexterity.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Manual means operated by hand, rather than by electricity or a motor. □ There is a manual pump to get rid of the water. ● manu|al|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The device is manually operated, using a simple handle.
4 N‑COUNT A manual is a book which tells you how to do something or how a piece of machinery works. □ …the instruction manual.
manu|fac|ture ◆◇◇ /mæ njʊfæ ktʃə r / (manufactures , manufacturing , manufactured )
1 VERB To manufacture something means to make it in a factory, usually in large quantities. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] They manufacture the class of plastics known as thermoplastic materials. □ [V -ed] We import foreign manufactured goods. ● N‑UNCOUNT Manufacture is also a noun. □ …the manufacture of nuclear weapons. □ …celebrating 90 years of car manufacture. ● manu|fac|tur|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …management headquarters for manufacturing.