# manual

/ˈmænjuəɫ/ (US) · /mˈænjuːəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/manual
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. instruction book

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- I had to check the car manual to see how to change the clock.
- The technical manual provided exhaustive troubleshooting steps for the server's cooling system, though the language was somewhat dense for a novice.

### 2. organ keyboard

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

- The organist moved his hands quickly between the upper and lower manuals.
- The cathedral's pipe organ features four separate manuals, allowing the performer to access a vast array of tonal colours simultaneously.

### 3. done by hand

adjective · CEFR B1

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

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

- The factory workers still do a lot of manual work to assemble the furniture.
- Despite the rise of automation, certain delicate stages of the watchmaking process still require manual precision that machines cannot replicate.

### 4. not automatic

adjective · CEFR B1

describing a machine or vehicle that you must control yourself.

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

- He prefers driving a manual car because he likes having more control.
- The pilot switched to manual control after the autopilot system began to behave erratically during the descent.

## Examples

- I need to read the manual to fix the printer.
- The technician consulted the service manual to identify the correct replacement part for the engine.
- While digital interfaces have become more intuitive, complex industrial machinery still requires a physical manual to ensure operators follow safety protocols during an emergency shutdown.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.