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Dictionary definition for: Control

1. (v) exercise authoritative control or power over; "control the budget" "Command the military forces"

2. (n) power to direct or determine; "under control"

3. (v) 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"

4. (n) 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. (n) (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. (v) handle and cause to function; "do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol" "control the lever"

7. (n) 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"

8. (v) control (others or oneself) or influence skillfully, usually to one''s advantage; "She manipulates her boss" "She is a very controlling mother and doesn''t let her children grow up" "The teacher knew how to keep the class in line" "she keeps in line"

9. (n) the activity of managing or exerting control over something; "the control of the mob by the police was admirable"

10. (v) verify or regulate by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard, of scientific experiments; "Are you controlling for the temperature?"

11. (n) 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"

12. (v) verify by using a duplicate register for comparison; "control an account"

13. (v) 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"

14. (n) discipline in personal and social activities; "he was a model of polite restraint" "she never lost control of herself"

15. (n) great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity; "a good command of French"

16. (v) have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of; "Do you control these data?"

17. (n) the economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.; "they wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls"

18. (n) a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine; "the speed control on his turntable was not working properly" "I turned the controls over to her"

19. (n) a spiritual agency that is assumed to assist the medium during a seance

WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.