ENGLISH
REFERENCE

manual

n. · adj.
US //ˈmænjuəɫ// UK //mˈænjuːəl// man·u·al
  1. 1 instruction book (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a book or document that explains how to use a machine or how to do a specific task.

    a comprehensive handbook providing instructions, guidelines, or specifications for the operation of a device or system.

    Example

    I had to check the car manual to see how to change the clock.

    Example

    The technical manual provided exhaustive troubleshooting steps for the server's cooling system, though the language was somewhat dense for a novice.
  2. 2 organ keyboard (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    one of the keyboards on a large musical instrument like an organ, played with the hands.

    a keyboard, especially one of several, played with the hands on an organ or harpsichord.

    Example

    The organist moved his hands quickly between the upper and lower manuals.

    Example

    The cathedral's pipe organ features four separate manuals, allowing the performer to access a vast array of tonal colours simultaneously.
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  1. 3 done by hand (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    done by a person using their hands rather than by a machine or computer.

    relating to or involving the use of the hands; specifically, work requiring physical effort rather than automation.

    Example

    The factory workers still do a lot of manual work to assemble the furniture.

    Example

    Despite the rise of automation, certain delicate stages of the watchmaking process still require manual precision that machines cannot replicate.
  2. 4 not automatic (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    describing a machine or vehicle that you must control yourself.

    operated by human effort or intervention rather than being automatic or electronic.

    Example

    He prefers driving a manual car because he likes having more control.

    Example

    The pilot switched to manual control after the autopilot system began to behave erratically during the descent.
    • non automatic
Etymology 1

From Middle English manuel, from Old French manuel, from Late Latin manuāle (“handbook, manual”).

Etymology 2

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

Word family

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