CONTROL (controlled, controlling)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does control mean? 

• CONTROL (noun)
  The noun CONTROL has 11 senses:

1. power to direct or determine

2. a relation of constraint of one entity (thing or person or group) by another

3. (physiology) regulation or maintenance of a function or action or reflex etc

4. a standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experiment

5. the activity of managing or exerting control over something

6. the state that exists when one person or group has power over another

7. discipline in personal and social activities

8. great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity

9. a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine

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

11. the economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.

  Familiarity information: CONTROL used as a noun is familiar.

• CONTROL (verb)
  The verb CONTROL has 9 senses:

1. exercise authoritative control or power over

2. lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits

3. handle and cause to function

4. maintain influence over (others or oneself) skillfully, usually to one's advantage

5. check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard

6. place under restrictions; limit access to by law

7. verify by using a duplicate register for comparison

8. be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

9. have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of

  Familiarity information: CONTROL used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTROL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Power to direct or determine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

under control

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

power; powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "control"):

authorisation; authority; authorization; dominance; potency; say-so (the power or right to give orders or make decisions)

corporatism (control of a state or organization by large interest groups)

hold (power by which something or someone is affected or dominated)

iron fist (rigorous or ruthless control)

rein (any means of control)

Derivation:

control (exercise authoritative control or power over)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A relation of constraint of one entity (thing or person or group) by another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Context example:

they instituted controls over drinking on campus

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

relation (an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(physiology) regulation or maintenance of a function or action or reflex etc

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he had lost control of his sphincters

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

activity; bodily function; bodily process; body process (an organic process that takes place in the body)

Domain category:

physiology (the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "control"):

motor control (control of muscles)

Derivation:

control (handle and cause to function)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experiment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

control; control condition

Context example:

the control condition was inappropriate for the conclusions he wished to draw

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

criterion; standard (the ideal in terms of which something can be judged)

Holonyms ("control" is a part of...):

experiment; experimentation (the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation)

Derivation:

control (verify by using a duplicate register for comparison)

control (check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The activity of managing or exerting control over something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the control of the mob by the police was admirable

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

activity (any specific behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "control"):

repression (the act of repressing; control by holding down)

crowd control (activity of controlling a crowd)

damage control (an effort to minimize or curtail damage or loss)

federalisation; federalization (the act of being put under federal control)

flight control (control from ground stations of airplanes in flight by means of messages transmitted to the pilot electronically)

flood control ((engineering) the art or technique of trying to control rivers with dams etc in order to minimize the occurrence of floods)

imperialism (any instance of aggressive extension of authority)

regulating; regulation (the act of controlling or directing according to rule)

internal control (an accounting procedure or system designed to promote efficiency or assure the implementation of a policy or safeguard assets or avoid fraud and error etc.)

regularisation; regularization; regulation (the act of bringing to uniformity; making regular)

ownership; possession (the act of having and controlling property)

possession ((sport) the act of controlling the ball (or puck))

power trip ((slang) a self-aggrandizing action undertaken simply for the pleasure of exercising control over other people)

riot control; riot control operation (the measures taken to control a riot)

grasping; prehension; seizing; taking hold (the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles))

steerage; steering (the act of steering a ship)

direction; guidance; steering (the act of setting and holding a course)

self-control; self-denial; self-discipline (the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses)

traffic control (control of the flow of traffic in a building or a city)

price-fixing (control (by agreement among producers or by government) of the price of a commodity in interstate commerce)

restraint (the act of controlling by restraining someone or something)

Derivation:

control (maintain influence over (others or oneself) skillfully, usually to one's advantage)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The state that exists when one person or group has power over another

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

ascendance; ascendancy; ascendence; ascendency; control; dominance

Context example:

her apparent dominance of her husband was really her attempt to make him pay attention to her

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "control"):

ascendant; ascendent (position or state of being dominant or in control)

domination; mastery; supremacy (power to dominate or defeat)

predominance; predomination; prepotency (the state of being predominant over others)

dominion; rule (dominance or power through legal authority)

regulation (the state of being controlled or governed)

absolutism; despotism; tyranny (dominance through threat of punishment and violence)

monopoly (exclusive control or possession of something)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Discipline in personal and social activities

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

control; restraint

Context example:

she never lost control of herself

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

discipline (the trait of being well behaved)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "control"):

self-restraint; temperateness (exhibiting restraint imposed on the self)

moderation; temperance (the trait of avoiding excesses)

inhibition (the quality of being inhibited)

continence (voluntary control over urinary and fecal discharge)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

command; control; mastery

Context example:

a good command of French

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

skillfulness (the state of being cognitively skillful)

Derivation:

control (have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of)

control (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A mechanism that controls the operation of a machine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

control; controller

Context example:

I turned the controls over to her

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

mechanism (device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "control"):

cruise control (control mechanism for keeping an automobile at a set speed)

dial (the control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning)

disk controller ((computer science) a circuit or chip that translates commands into a form that can control a hard disk drive)

governor; regulator (a control that maintains a steady speed in a machine (as by controlling the supply of fuel))

handwheel (control consisting of a wheel whose rim serves as the handle by which a part is operated)

joystick (a manual control consisting of a vertical handle that can move freely in two directions; used as an input device to computers or to devices controlled by computers)

regulator (any of various controls or devices for regulating or controlling fluid flow, pressure, temperature, etc.)

electric switch; electrical switch; switch (control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit)

valve (control consisting of a mechanical device for controlling the flow of a fluid)

Derivation:

control (handle and cause to function)

Sense 10

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

disembodied spirit; spirit (any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings)

Sense 11

Meaning:

The economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

they wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls

Hypernyms ("control" is a kind of...):

economic policy (a government policy for maintaining economic growth and tax revenues)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "control"):

price control (restriction on maximum prices that is established and maintained by the government (as during periods of war or inflation))

cap; ceiling; roof (an upper limit on what is allowed)

base; floor (a lower limit)

• CONTROL (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Exercise authoritative control or power over

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

command; control

Context example:

Command the military forces

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "control"):

preoccupy (engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively)

channelise; channelize; direct; guide; head; maneuver; manoeuver; manoeuvre; point; steer (direct the course; determine the direction of travelling)

steer (direct (oneself) somewhere)

hold one's own (maintain one's position and be in control of a situation)

care; deal; handle; manage (be in charge of, act on, or dispose of)

internationalise; internationalize (put under international control)

hold (take and maintain control over, often by violent means)

hold sway (be master; reign or rule)

govern (direct or strongly influence the behavior of)

regiment (subject to rigid discipline, order, and systematization)

monopolise; monopolize (have and control fully and exclusively)

draw rein; harness; rein; rein in (control and direct with or as if by reins)

corner (gain control over)

preside (act as president)

dominate; master (have dominance or the power to defeat over)

becharm; charm (control by magic spells, as by practicing witchcraft)

govern; rule (exercise authority over; as of nations)

call the shots; call the tune; wear the trousers (exercise authority or be in charge)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

control (power to direct or determine)

controller (a person who directs and restrains)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

check; contain; control; curb; hold; hold in; moderate

Context example:

control your anger

Hypernyms (to "control" is one way to...):

hold back; keep; keep back; restrain (prevent the action or expression of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "control"):

conquer; stamp down; subdue; suppress (bring under control by force or authority)

damp (restrain or discourage)

crucify; mortify; subdue (hold within limits and control)

abnegate; deny (deny oneself (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure)

train (cause to grow in a certain way by tying and pruning it)

catch (check oneself during an action)

bate (moderate or restrain; lessen the force of)

thermostat (control the temperature with a thermostat)

counteract; countercheck (oppose or check by a counteraction)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

control (great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Handle and cause to function

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

control; operate

Context example:

control the lever

Hypernyms (to "control" is one way to...):

manipulate (hold something in one's hands and move it)

Verb group:

control; master (have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "control"):

synchronise; synchronize (operate simultaneously)

dial (operate a dial to select a telephone number)

turn (alter the functioning or setting of)

submarine (control a submarine)

treadle (operate (machinery) by a treadle)

relay (control or operate by relay)

gate (control with a valve or other device that functions like a gate)

pedal (operate the pedals on a keyboard instrument)

drive (operate or control a vehicle)

aviate; fly; pilot (operate an airplane)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

control ((physiology) regulation or maintenance of a function or action or reflex etc)

control (a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Maintain influence over (others or oneself) skillfully, usually to one's advantage

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

control; keep in line; manipulate

Context example:

she keeps in line

Hypernyms (to "control" is one way to...):

interact (act together or towards others or with others)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "control"):

tease (to arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them)

handle (show and train)

ingratiate (gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

control (the activity of managing or exerting control over something)

controller (a person who directs and restrains)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

control; verify

Context example:

Are you controlling for the temperature?

Hypernyms (to "control" is one way to...):

essay; examine; prove; test; try; try out (put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to)

Verb group:

ascertain; assure; check; control; ensure; insure; see; see to it (be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something)

Domain category:

science; scientific discipline (a particular branch of scientific knowledge)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

control (a standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experiment)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Place under restrictions; limit access to by law

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

control; restrict

Context example:

that area is restricted to security personnel only

Hypernyms (to "control" is one way to...):

curb; curtail; cut back; restrict (place restrictions on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "control"):

classify (declare unavailable, as for security reasons)

taboo (declare as sacred and forbidden)

localise; localize (restrict something to a particular area)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Verify by using a duplicate register for comparison

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

control an account

Hypernyms (to "control" is one way to...):

ascertain; assure; check; control; ensure; insure; see; see to it (be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something)

Domain usage:

archaicism; archaism (the use of an archaic expression)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

control (a standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experiment)

controller (someone who maintains and audits business accounts)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

ascertain; assure; check; control; ensure; insure; see; see to it

Context example:

control the quality of the product

Hypernyms (to "control" is one way to...):

verify (confirm the truth of)

Verb group:

check; check off; mark; mark off; tick; tick off (put a check mark on or near or next to)

check (verify by consulting a source or authority)

ascertain; check; determine; find out; learn; see; watch (find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort)

control; verify (check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "control"):

proof; proofread (read for errors)

control (verify by using a duplicate register for comparison)

double-check (check once more to be absolutely sure)

cross-check (check out conflicting sources; crosscheck facts, for example)

cinch (make sure of)

card (ask someone for identification to determine whether he or she is old enough to consume liquor)

spot-check (pick out random samples for examination in order to ensure high quality)

cover (maintain a check on; especially by patrolling)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 9

Meaning:

Have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

control; master

Context example:

Do you control these data?

Hypernyms (to "control" is one way to...):

know (know how to do or perform something)

"Control" entails doing...:

understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)

Verb group:

control; operate (handle and cause to function)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "control"):

cinch (get a grip on; get mastery of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

control (great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity)

 Context examples 

He could scarcely hear what it said, so ravished was he, though he controlled his face, for he knew that Mr. Higginbotham's ferret eyes were fixed upon him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The use of a pharmacologic substance as a control within a treatment regimen where the pharmacologic properties of that substance are relevant to the condition being treated.

(Active Control, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of control, which has a demonstrated effect, administered as a comparator, to subjects in a clinical trial. [From ICH E10].

(Active Control, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

A specific spot on the body where an acupuncture needle may be inserted to control pain and other symptoms.

(Acupoint, NCI Dictionary)

For a moment Gilchrist, with upraised hand, tried to control his writhing features.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Acetylcholine helps control memory and the action of certain muscles.

(Acetylcholine, NCI Dictionary)

You will want to be in control.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The determination of the ratio of a subject's partial thromboplastin time to a standard or control partial thromboplastin time.

(Activated PTT/Standard Ratio Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

Genetic loci in the vertebrate major histocompatibility complex that encode polymorphic products which control the immune response to specific antigens.

(MHC Class II Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

Now they believe the cause is related to genes that control the activity of some brain cells.

(Migraine, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)