control

Plural: controls

Noun

• power to direct or determine
  • "under control"
• a relation of constraint of one entity (thing or person or group) by another
  • "measures for the control of disease"
  • "they instituted controls over drinking on campus"
• (physiology) regulation or maintenance of a function or action or reflex etc
  • "the timing and control of his movements were unimpaired"
  • "he had lost control of his sphincters"
• a standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experiment
  • "the control condition was inappropriate for the conclusions he wished to draw"
• the activity of managing or exerting control over something
  • "the control of the mob by the police was admirable"
• the state that exists when one person or group has power over another
• discipline in personal and social activities
  • "she never lost control of herself"
• great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity
• a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine
  • "the speed controller on his turntable was not working properly"
  • "I turned the controls over to her"
• a spiritual agency that is assumed to assist the medium during a seance
• the economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.
  • "they wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls"
• An influence or authority over something.
• The method and means of governing the performance of any apparatus, machine or system, such as a lever, handle or button.
• Restraint or ability to contain one's movements or emotions, or self-control.
• A security mechanism, policy, or procedure that can counter system attack, reduce risks, and resolve vulnerabilities; a safeguard or countermeasure.
• A means of monitoring for, and triggering intervention in, activities that are not going according to plan.
• A control group or control experiment.
• A duplicate book, register, or account, kept to correct or check another account or register.
• An interface element that a computer user interacts with, such as a window or a text box.
• Any of the physical factors determining the climate of a place, such as latitude, distribution of land and water, altitude, exposure, prevailing winds, permanent high- or low-barometric-pressure areas, ocean currents, mountain barriers, soil, and vegetation.
• A construction in which the understood subject of a given predicate is determined by an expression in context. See control.
• A spirit that takes possession of a psychic or medium and allows other spirits to communicate with the living.
• A checkpoint along an audax route.

Verb

Verb Forms: controlled, controlling, controls

• To exercise authority or influence over; to manage or direct.
• exercise authoritative control or power over
  • "control the budget"
• lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
  • "control your anger"
• handle and cause to function
  • "control the lever"
• control (others or oneself) or influence skillfully, usually to one's advantage
  • "She is a very controlling mother and doesn't let her children grow up"
• check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard
  • "Are you controlling for the temperature?"
• verify by using a duplicate register for comparison
  • "control an account"
• be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
  • "control the quality of the product"
• have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of
  • "Do you control these data?"
• To exercise influence over; to suggest or dictate the behavior of.
• (construed with for) To design (an experiment) so that the effects of one or more variables are reduced or eliminated.
• To verify the accuracy of (something or someone, especially a financial account) by comparison with another account.
• To call to account, to take to task, to challenge.
• To hold in check, to curb, to restrain.

Examples

• I tried to control the board by blocking off potential high-scoring lanes.
• The government has complete control over the situation.
• With a simple remote, he could control the toy truck.

Synonyms

ascendance, ascendancy, ascendence, ascendency, ascertain, assure, check, command, contain, control condition, controller, curb, dominance, ensure, hold, hold in, insure, keep in line, manipulate, master, mastery, moderate, operate, restraint, see, see to it, verify, besteer, bewield, manage, puppeteer, rule, widget

Antonyms

unrestraint, defy, obey, rebel, resist, submit

Related Words

regulate