control

noun

• 1 [mass noun] the power to influence or direct people’s behaviour or the course of events:the whole operation is under the control of a production manager the situation was slipping out of her control
• the ability to manage a machine, vehicle, or other moving object:he lost control of his car improve your ball control
• the restriction of an activity, tendency, or phenomenon:crime control
• the ability to restrain one’s own emotions or actions:she was goaded beyond control
• [count noun] (often controls) a means of limiting or regulating something:growing controls on local spending
• [count noun] a switch or other device by which a device or vehicle is regulated:he had the chance to take the controls and fly the glider the volume control
• [with modifier] the place from which a system or activity is directed or where a particular item is verified:passport control
• Computingshort for control key.note that Control plus various keys on the numeric keypad will move you around the text

• 2a person or thing used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a survey or experiment:platelet activity was higher in patients with the disease than in the controls

• 3a member of an intelligence organization who personally directs the activities of a spy: he sat with his KGB control as the details of his new assignment were explained

• 4 Bridge a high card that will prevent the opponents from establishing a particular suit: he has controls in both minor suits

verb (controls, controlling, controlled)

• 1 [with object] determine the behaviour or supervise the running of:he was appointed to control the company’s marketing strategy
• maintain influence or authority over:there were never enough masters to control the unruly mobs of boys
• limit the level, intensity, or numbers of:he had to control his temper
• (control oneself) remain calm and reasonable despite provocation: her eyes flashed angrily, but she made an effort to control herself
• regulate (a mechanical or scientific process):the airflow is controlled by a fan
• (as adjective controlled) (of a drug) restricted by law in respect of use and possession:a sentence for possessing controlled substances

• 2 [no object] (control for) take into account (an extraneous factor that might affect the results of an experiment):no attempt was made to control for variations (as adjective controlled)a controlled trial