manual

[ man-yoo-uhl, -yuhl ]

adjective

1. done, operated, worked, etc., by the hand or hands rather than by an electrical or electronic device:

   a manual gearshift.

2. involving or using human effort, skill, power, energy, etc.; physical:

   manual labor.

3. of or relating to the hand or hands:

   manual deformities.

4. of the nature of a manual or handbook:

   manual instructions.

noun

1. a small book, especially one giving information or instructions:

   a manual of mathematical tables.

2. a nonelectric or nonelectronic typewriter; a typewriter whose keys and carriage may be powered solely by the typist's hands.
3. Military. the prescribed drill in handling a rifle:

   the manual of arms.

4. Music. a keyboard, especially one of several belonging to a pipe organ.
5. Automotive. manual transmission.

manual

/ ˈmænjʊəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a hand or hands
2. operated or done by hand

   manual controls

3. physical, as opposed to mental or mechanical

   manual labour

4. by human labour rather than automatic or computer-aided means
5. of, relating to, or resembling a manual

noun

1. a book, esp of instructions or information

   a car manual

2. music one of the keyboards played by hand on an organ
3. military the prescribed drill with small arms

Derived Forms

• ˈmanually, adverb

Other Words From

• man·u·al·ly adverb
• non·man·u·al adjective
• un·man·u·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of manual¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; from Latin manuālis (adjective), manuāle (noun) “(something) that can be held in the hand” ( manu(s) “hand” + -ālis, -āle -al ¹, -al ² ); replacing late Middle English manuel, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of manual¹

C15: via Old French from Latin manuālis, from manus hand

Example Sentences

Police said they seized several recording devices, including two hidden-camera clocks and a manual for a hidden-camera fan.

From The Daily Beast

There he may have a legitimate complaint, though the al Qaeda manual makes no mention of providing captives with a Bible.

From The Daily Beast

This from a guy who when he fled arrest in England left behind a computer containing “The Al Qaeda Manual.”

From The Daily Beast

Baffled by the jargon-heavy consumer information manual, I chatted with Cheryl Luptowski from the NSF consumer affairs office.

From The Daily Beast

An email allegedly written by David Newman, an employee of the Cheyenne VA, reads like a how-to manual for cooking the books.

From The Daily Beast

This man by hard, manual labor makes only enough to pay for humble shelter and plain food.

From Project Gutenberg

The Washington manual laborer school and the Howard institution can bear testimony to his industry and patriotism.

From Project Gutenberg

The manual compass on these organs seldom extended higher than f2 or g3, though it often went down to GG.

From Project Gutenberg

He placed in the key slip below each manual what he called a "Pedal Help."

From Project Gutenberg

This would reduce the available time for direct manual labour at his disposal.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cookbook
• guide
• guidebook
• handbook
• reference book
• text
• textbook
• workbook