man·u·al
ˈman-yə-wəl 
-yəl,
-yü-əl
1
a
: of, relating to, or involving the hands
manual dexterity
b
: worked or done by hand and not by machine
a manual transmission
manual computation
manual indexing
2
: requiring or using physical skill and energy
manual labor
manual workers
1
: a book that is conveniently handled
2
: the prescribed movements in the handling of a weapon or other military item during a drill or ceremony
the manual of arms
3
a
: a keyboard for the hands
specifically
: one of the several keyboards of an organ or harpsichord that controls a separate division of the instrument
b
: a device or apparatus intended for manual operation
c
: an automobile with a manual transmission
Is your car a manual or an automatic?
called also standard
Synonyms
Examples of manual in a Sentence
Adjective
She spent the summer doing manual labor on her uncle's farm.
He has a collection of old-fashioned manual typewriters.
Noun
Here's the owner's manual of your new car.
The computer program comes with a user's manual.
We lost the instruction manual and couldn't put our bikes together.
Please refer to the training manual if you have any questions about your job.
Is your car a manual or an automatic?
Recent Examples on the Web
Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
Anyone trying to stand in the technology’s way is as hopeless as the manual weavers who resisted the mechanical looms in the early 19th century.
—Nir Eisikovits, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2024
For example, the company claims this machine has a 1,000-pound capacity online, but our testers read in the product manual that it’s only built for 500 pounds.
—Erin Bunch, SELF, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for manual 
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Adjective
The Court reversed an order by the Florida Supreme Court for a selective manual recount of that state’s U.S. presidential election ballots, thus awarding its 25 Electoral College votes to Bush.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
Anyone trying to stand in the technology’s way is as hopeless as the manual weavers who resisted the mechanical looms in the early 19th century.
—Nir Eisikovits, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
The deadline to request a recount is 5 p.m. on the third business day after the Election Commission receives the last statement of results from county canvassers, according to the commission's recount manual.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2024
For example, the company claims this machine has a 1,000-pound capacity online, but our testers read in the product manual that it’s only built for 500 pounds.
—Erin Bunch, SELF, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for manual
Articles Related to manual
Dictionary Entries Near manual
Cite this Entry
“Manual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manual. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
manual
1 of 2 adjective
man·u·al
ˈman-yə(-wə)l
1
: of, relating to, or involving the hands
manual skill
2
: worked or operated by hand
a car with a manual transmission
3
: requiring or using physical skill and energy
manual labor
manually
adverb
-ē
manual
2 of 2 noun1
: a small book
especially
: handbook
2
: the set movements in the handling of a weapon during a military drill
the manual of arms
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English manuel "relating to the hands, manual," from early French manuel (same meaning), from Latin manualis (same meaning), from manus "hand" — related to manage, maneuver, manufacture see Word History at maneuver
Medical Definition
manual
adjective
man·u·al
ˈman-yə(-wə)l
1
a
: of, relating to, or involving the hands
manual dexterity
b
: done or performed by hand and not by machine
manual removal of nits and lice—Jerome Potts
Jerome Potts2
: using signs and the manual alphabet in teaching the deaf compare oral sense 2
Legal Definition
manual
adjective
man·u·al
ˈman-yə-wəl
: involving or as if involving use of the hands
specifically
: of, relating to, or being a gift of a corporeal movable object that is actually delivered
a manual donation
manually
adverb
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