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manual Definition

manu·al (man′yo̵̅o̅ əl)

adjective

    1. of or having to do with a hand or the hands
    2. made, done, worked, or used by the hands
    3. involving or doing hard physical work that requires use of the hands
  2. without electrical or other power a manual typewriter

Etymology: ME manuel < OFr < L manualis < manus, a hand < IE *mə-n-és (akin to *mṇtos > Gmc *mund- > ON & OE mund, a hand) < base < *mər-, *mən-, hand

noun

  1. a handy book of facts, instructions, etc. for use as a guide or reference; handbook
  2. any of the separate keyboards of an organ console or harpsichord
  3. prescribed drill in the handling of a weapon, esp. a rifle

Etymology: ME manuele < ML manuale, manual, service book < LL, case or covering for a book < L manualis: see the adj.

manual Related Forms
man′u·ally adverb
manual Synonyms

manual

modif.

by hand, hand-operated, not automatic, standard; see old-fashioned.

manual Synonyms

manual

n.

guidebook, reference book, textbook, exercise book, manual of arms; see also handbook, text 1.

manual Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • instructional: Reading instructional manuals and visits to the local climbing wall also played a major part in learning.
  • printed: Below are some of the more common questions asked about our dog training systems, which we address here and in the printed manuals.
  • technical: The training covers both technical and personal development skills and the support products include technical manuals and marketing tools.
  • on-line: All the on-line manuals have vanished from the Abstract site and none of the old kit is mentioned at all!
  • diagnostic: Documents available here include WHO press releases, fact sheets, pandemic preparedness plans, diagnostic manuals, and links to relevant Web resources.
  • operational: Detailed procedures and operational manuals are also available from:- Sheila Alexander Ext.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • consult: For help on enabling graphics printing please consult the printer manual.

Modifies a noun

  • handling: The greatest risk from paper is in its manual handling.
  • gearbox: Day was tough manual gearbox its will to true the surplus.
  • wheelchair: There is a manual wheelchair available from the shop.
  • labor: To keep a steam locomotive in traffic entailed much manual labor.
  • typewriter: Once when I had left the case off my old manual typewriter, I found the inky ribbon cascading down from the table.
  • intervention: The resulting 128 pairs of images were processed with the fully automated system, with no manual intervention.

Used with adjective complement

  • print: There will not be a printed manual for the initial releases of PIMS.

Noun used with modifier

  • instruction: After four years he finds himself writing instruction manuals for a computer company.
  • user: Could simple job aids be used in place of lengthy workbooks and user manuals?
  • training: The Complete Computer training manuals Unlimited printing step-by-step computer training manuals.
  • maintenance: For instance, the initial application may be user and training manuals but it can be used later to generate operations and maintenance manuals.
  • software: Your camera or software manuals should explain how to do this.

Preposition: with

  • overdrive: Transmission: 4-speed manual, 4-speed manual with electrical overdrive or 3-speed automatic.