noun (n)

• exerting shrewd or devious influence especially for one's own advantage(noun.act)

  Example:
  His manipulation of his friends was scandalous.
  

  Synonym:
  use
  

  source: wordnet30
• the action of touching with the hands (or the skillful use of the hands) or by the use of mechanical means(noun.act)

  Synonym:
  handling
  

  source: wordnet30
• The act or process of manipulating, or the state of being manipulated; the act of handling work by hand; use of the hands, in an artistic or skillful manner, in science or art.(noun)

  source: webster1913