manipulative

manipulate +‎ -ive

• IPA^(key): /məˈnɪpjələtɪv/
• Hyphenation: ma‧nip‧u‧la‧tive

manipulative (comparative more manipulative, superlative most manipulative)

1. Using manipulation purposefully.
   • 2012 January 1, Robert M. Pringle, “How to Be Manipulative”, in American Scientist‎, volume 100, number 1, page 31:

     As in much of biology, the most satisfying truths in ecology derive from manipulative experimentation. Tinker with nature and quantify how it responds.

2. Tending to manipulate.
3. (derogatory) Reaching one's goals at the expense of other people by using them.

manipulative (plural manipulatives)

1. (mathematics) A manipulable object designed to demonstrate a mathematical concept.
   • 2008 April 25, Kenneth Chang, “Study Suggests Math Teachers Scrap Balls and Slices”, in New York Times‎:

     Some children need manipulatives to learn math basics, Dr. Clements said, but only as a starting point.

manipulative

1. inflected form of manipulativ