manipulate-v; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: Influence or control skillfully and often deviously.

Examples:
He manipulated public opinion in his favor.
She manipulates her boss.
She manipulated her children and never let them grow up.

Mappings:
VerbNet: force-59-1
FrameNet: Manipulate_into_doing
PropBank: manipulate.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 5

Sense Number 2: Hold something in one's hand and move it; treat manually perhaps for therapeutic purposes, as in massage.

Examples:
The artist manipulated the clay in her palms.
He manipulated my back in interesting ways.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: manipulate.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2, 6

Sense Number 3: Fake or falsify; control in a fraudulent manner.

Commentary:
NOTE: Manipulation can be of a product or a process.

Examples:
The company manipulated the figures on its quarterly earnings report.
The scientist manipulated the data to maintain funding.
Enron manipulated prices to maximize profit.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3, 4