con·trol
(kən-trōĺ)
[Middle English controllen, from Anglo-Norman contreroller, from Medieval Latin contrārotulāre, to check by duplicate register, from contrārotulus, duplicate register, Latin contrā-, contra-, + Latin rotulus, roll diminutive of rota, wheel.]
transitive verb: -trolled, -trol·ling, -trols.
- To exercise authoritative or dominating influence over; direct. See synonyms at conduct
- To adjust to a requirement; regulate: controlled trading on the stock market; controls the flow of water.
- To hold in restraint; check: struggled to control my temper.
- To reduce or prevent the spread of: control insects; controlled the fire by dousing it with water.
- To verify or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or by comparing with another standard.
- To verify (an account, for example) by using a duplicate register for comparison.
noun
- Authority or ability to manage or direct: lost control of the skidding car; the leaders in control of the country.
- One that controls; a controlling agent, device, or organization.
- An instrument or set of instruments used to operate, regulate, or guide a machine or vehicle. Often used in the plural.
- A restraining device, measure, or limit; a curb: a control on prices; price controls.
- A standard of comparison for checking or verifying the results of an experiment.
- An individual or group used as a standard of comparison in a control experiment.
- An intelligence agent who supervises or instructs another agent.
- A spirit presumed to speak or act through a medium.
derivatives
- con·troĺla·biĺi·ty
- noun
- con·troĺla·ble
- adjective
- con·troĺla·bly
- adverb
