manual

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈmæn.j(u)əl/ UK /ˈmæn.j(ʊ)əl/ See IPA manual

adj noun Freq #5838

Meanings

1

noun
A book that explains how to use or operate something.

The dishwasher isn't working; can you find the manual?
2

adj
Done by hand or by physical human effort rather than by a machine.

The factory still does some manual checks to catch mistakes machines miss.
3

adj
Relating to or using the hands.

Playing the piano well requires great manual skill.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

handlystandard stick

Opposites

automatic

Word family

Forms manuals

Derived forms automanualbimanualbrachiomanualdextromanualintermanualmandraulicmanualettemanualisemanualismmanualistmanualizemanually

Related forms amanuensis automatic manufacturemanumaticmanumit manus manuscriptsemi-automatic

Etymology

From Middle English manuel, from Anglo-Norman manuel, Old French manual, from Latin manuālis, from manus (“hand”).

manuel Middle English manual Old French manuālis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

# manual

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** ˈmæn.j(u)əl
**IPA (UK):** ˈmæn.j(ʊ)əl
**Frequency rank:** 5838

## Meanings
1. A book that explains how to use or operate something.
2. Done by hand or by physical human effort rather than by a machine.
3. Relating to or using the hands.

## Examples
- The dishwasher isn't working; can you find the manual?
- The factory still does some manual checks to catch mistakes machines miss.
- Playing the piano well requires great manual skill.

## Synonyms
- handly
- standard
- stick

## Antonyms
- automatic

## Derived Forms
- automanual
- bimanual
- brachiomanual
- dextromanual
- intermanual
- mandraulic
- manualette
- manualise
- manualism
- manualist
- manualize
- manually

## Related Forms
- amanuensis
- automatic
- manufacture
- manumatic
- manumit
- manus
- manuscript
- semi-automatic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: manuel
- Root: manual
- Root: manuālis

## Etymology
From Middle English manuel, from Anglo-Norman manuel, Old French manual, from Latin manuālis, from manus (“hand”).

## AI Etymology
Manual comes from Middle English manuel, from Anglo-Norman manuel, Old French manual, from Latin manuālis, from manus (“hand”). In present-day English its meanings include a book that explains how to use or operate something, done by hand or by physical human effort rather than by a machine, and relating to or using the hands. The historical chain runs through manuel (Middle English), manuel (Anglo-Norman), manual (Old French), and manuālis (Latin). Related and derived forms include amanuensis, automatic, manufacture, and automanual.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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manual

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