Man
/mæn/
nounverbA1
Definition
As a noun, "man" means a grown-up male person, usually an adult. It is used to talk about human males in general or a specific man. As a verb, "man" means to be in charge of or operate something, like a machine, station, or place, often by a person or people.
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See It in Action
Adult male human being (noun)
- •The man is walking his dog in the park.
- •She asked the man for directions to the station.
- •Men often have deeper voices than women.
To work at or be in charge of a place or machine (verb)
- •The soldiers manned the control room during the operation.
- •Volunteers manned the help desk at the event.
- •Who will man the front desk while the manager is away?
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "man" like "boy" (A1 word), but "man" means an adult male, not a child
- ✓Picture a tall person with a deep voice and adult features, like a father or teacher
- ✓It's the feeling when you see someone strong or responsible, like a protector or helper
- ✓Sounds like "man" → imagine a person standing firmly, strong and steady like a solid tree trunk
- ✓Remember stories or movies where a "man" is a main character, like a hero or worker
- ✓NOT like "woman" (female adult), "man" refers to male adults
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "watch" (just looking), "man" means actively working or controlling something
- ✓As a noun, NOT like "child" (young), "man" means fully grown human male
Try Other Words
- •Male: an adult male person (Use when emphasizing gender, not age or role)
- •Person: a human being (Use when gender is not important)
- •Operate: to control a machine or system (Use when "man" is used as a verb for working on equipment)
- •Staff: to provide workers for a place (Use when talking about groups of people working somewhere)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: single root word "man," no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "mann," meaning a human being, originally gender-neutral but now mostly male
- •Historical development: Used for centuries to mean adult male human; also used generally for people in older texts
- •Modern usage: Commonly means adult male; also used as a verb meaning to work or be in charge of something, especially in jobs or military
Reflect & Connect
•How does the meaning of "man" change when used as a noun versus a verb?
•Can the word "man" be used to describe someone who is not an adult male? When and why?
Fill in the blanks
1.The ___ is standing at the bus stop waiting for his ride.
2.Volunteers ___ the information desk during the festival to help visitors.
3.A ___ usually has a deeper voice than a woman or a child.
4.Who will ___ the phones while the receptionist is on break?
5.The ___ helped carry the heavy boxes into the house.
6.When we say "man the station," we mean to ___ it with workers or guards.
7.In stories, a ___ often plays the role of a hero or protector.