Definition

1. Noun:

   • A skillful or clever movement: A deliberate, coordinated, and often skillful physical movement.
   • A strategic or tactical move: An action or plan designed to achieve a specific goal, especially to gain an advantage or outwit an opponent.
   • A military exercise: A large-scale training exercise for armed forces.
   • A controlled change in movement: The act of directing or controlling the course of something, like a vehicle or ship.

2. Verb:

   • To perform a skillful movement: To move or guide something skillfully and carefully.
   • To use clever strategy: To plan and act using clever or sometimes deceptive tactics to achieve an objective.
   • To perform military exercises: To carry out a planned movement of troops or ships.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The pilot executed a difficult manoeuvre to avoid the storm.
  • It was a brilliant political manoeuvre that secured her the nomination.
  • The army is conducting manoeuvres in the desert.
  • Parking in this narrow space requires a tricky manoeuvre.

• Verb:

  • She manoeuvred the car into the tight parking spot with ease.
  • He is constantly manoeuvring for a promotion within the company.
  • The fleet manoeuvred into position under cover of darkness.

Advanced Usage

• "Room for manoeuvre": Freedom or scope to change plans or take action.

  • The strict budget left them with little room for manoeuvre.

• "To manoeuvre someone into/out of something": To cleverly and subtly cause someone to be in or leave a particular situation.

  • She was manoeuvred into accepting the responsibility.

Variants and Related Words

• Maneuver: The standard American English spelling of "manoeuvre".
• Manoeuvrable (adj, UK) / Maneuverable (adj, US): Able to be moved or directed easily and skillfully.
  • The new model is more manoeuvrable in city traffic.
• Manoeuvring (n, UK) / Maneuvering (n, US): The process of performing manoeuvres.
  • The constant political manoeuvring was exhausting.

Synonyms

• Noun: Tactic, stratagem, move, operation, exercise.
• Verb: Steer, guide, navigate, engineer, manipulate, scheme.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Manoeuvre" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. The strategic meaning is often expressed with prepositions like "for" or "into".) - Manoeuvre for position: To act strategically to gain an advantageous situation. - Several candidates are manoeuvring for position ahead of the leadership election.

Related Idioms

• A tactical manoeuvre: A move made for short-term strategic gain.
  • Withdrawing his application was a tactical manoeuvre, not a surrender.

Noun

1. an action aimed at evading an opponent
2. a move made to gain a tactical end
3. a deliberate coordinated movement requiring dexterity and skill
   • he made a great maneuver
   • the runner was out on a play by the shortstop
4. a military training exercise
5. a plan for attaining a particular goal

Verb

1. perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage in attack or defense
2. direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
3. act in order to achieve a certain goal
   • He maneuvered to get the chairmanship
   • She maneuvered herself into the directorship