control (n.)

  1. power to direct or determine; under control'

  2. a spiritual agency that is assumed to assist the medium during a seance

  3. the economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.; they wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls'

  4. 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'

  5. (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'

  6. 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

    [ Syn: control condition ]

  7. the activity of managing or exerting control over something; the control of the mob by the police was admirable'

  8. the state that exists when one person or group has power over another; her apparent dominance of her husband was really her attempt to make him pay attention to her

    [ Syn: dominance , ascendance , ascendence , ascendancy , ascendency ]

  9. discipline in personal and social activities; he was a model of polite restraint; she never lost control of herself

    [ Syn: restraint ]

  10. great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity; a good command of French

    [ Syn: command , mastery ]

  11. 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

    [ Syn: controller ]

    control (v.)

  1. exercise authoritative control or power over; control the budget; Command the military forces

    [ Syn: command ]

  2. lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits; moderate your alcohol intake; hold your tongue; hold your temper; control your anger

    [ Syn: hold in , hold , contain , check , curb , moderate ]

  3. handle and cause to function; do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol; control the lever

    [ Syn: operate ]

  4. control (others or oneself) or influence skillfully, usually to ones advantage; She manipulates her boss; She is a very controlling mother and doesnt let her children grow up; The teacher knew how to keep the class in line; she keeps in line

    [ Syn: manipulate , keep in line ]

  5. check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard; Are you controlling for the temperature?

    [ Syn: verify ]

  6. verify by using a duplicate register for comparison; control an account'

  7. be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something; He verified that the valves were closed; See that the curtains are closed; control the quality of the product

    [ Syn: see , check , insure , see to it , ensure , ascertain , assure ]

  8. have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of; Do you control these data?

    [ Syn: master ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.