maneuver

views updated May 14 2018

ma·neu·ver / məˈnoōvər/ (Brit. ma·noeu·vre) • n. 1. a movement or series of moves requiring skill and care: spectacular jumps and other daring maneuvers. ∎  a carefully planned scheme or action, esp. one involving deception: shady financial maneuvers. ∎  the fact or process of taking such action: the economic policy provided no room for maneuver.2. (maneuvers) a large-scale military exercise of troops, warships, and other forces: the Russian vessel was on maneuvers.• v. (-vered, -ver·ing) 1. perform or cause to perform a movement or series of moves requiring skill and care: [intr.] the truck was unable to maneuver comfortably in the narrow street | [tr.] I'm maneuvering a loaded tray around the floor. 2. [tr.] carefully guide or manipulate (someone or something) in order to achieve an end: they were maneuvering him into a betrayal of his countryman. ∎  [intr.] carefully manipulate a situation to achieve an end: [as n.] (maneuvering) two decades of political maneuvering. DERIVATIVES: ma·neu·ver·er n.

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