manoeuvre

also maneuver 1 BrE, maneuver AmE noun

1 (C) a skilful or careful movement that you make, for example in order to avoid something or go through a narrow space: basic skiing manoeuvres

2 (C, U) a skilful or carefully planned action intended to deceive someone or achieve something: They tried by diplomatic maneuvers to obtain an agreement.

3 manoeuvres (singular) a military exercise like a battle done to train soldiers: on manoeuvres (=practising military exercises): The regiment is abroad on manoeuvres.

4 room for manoeuvre/freedom of manoeuvre the possibility of changing your plans or decisions: They haven't left us much freedom of manoeuvre.

2 BrE, maneuver AmE verb

1 (intransitive always + adv/prep, transitive always + adv/prep) to move or turn skilfully or to move or turn something skilfully, especially something large and heavy: She managed to manoeuvre expertly into the parking space. | manoeuvre sth along/into/out etc: Josh manoeuvred himself out of bed and hobbled to the door.

2 (I, T) to use cleverly planned and often dishonest methods to get the result that you want: manoeuvre sb into/out of sth: It was a well-organized plan to maneuvre the President out of office.