manipulate

Manipulate is a verb with several related senses. In its broadest use, it means to handle, operate, or control something, often with skill or manual dexterity. It can describe physical action, such as manipulating levers, tools, or parts, or moving objects by hand. In computing and data contexts, to manipulate data or variables means to transform, organize, or extract information from data sets, or to interact with a system through commands or code. In medicine and biology, manipulation refers to careful handling or adjustment of body parts, such as joint manipulation or tissue manipulation during procedures.

In social contexts, manipulation denotes influencing or controlling other people or groups, often by exploiting psychological tactics or power dynamics. This usage is frequently morally charged and considered unethical when it involves deception or coercion.

The noun manipulation denotes the act or process, while the adjective forms are manipulative (deceptive or coercive in influence) and manipulable or manipulable (capable of being manipulated). The term manipulation also appears in technical domains, such as image manipulation in photography and graphics, data manipulation in databases and spreadsheets, and surgical or physical manipulation in medical practice.

Etymology: manipulated words trace to Latin manipulus meaning “handful,” via Old French manipulating, with the modern English form emerging in the early modern period. Related terms include manipulator (the person or device that manipulates) and manipulation (the act itself).

See also: manipulation, data manipulation, image manipulation, manipulative, manipulator.