manual

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

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

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

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

manual labor
work performed mainly through physical effort using the hands

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Manual entered English in the late Middle English period and derives from Latin manus ‘hand’. It consequently developed senses relating both to work done by hand and to a handbook.

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

External links

# manual

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**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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