First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1control
verb con·trol \kən-ˈtrōl\
: to direct the behavior of (a person or animal) : to cause (a person or animal) to do what you want
: to have power over (something)
: to direct the actions or function of (something) : to cause (something) to act or function in a certain way
con·trolledcon·trol·ling
Full Definition of CONTROL
transitive verb
1
a archaic : to check, test, or verify by evidence or experiments b : to incorporate suitable controls in <a controlled experiment>
2
intransitive verb
: to incorporate controls in an experiment or study —used with for <control for socioeconomic differences>
— con·trol·la·bil·i·ty \-ˌtrō-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— con·trol·la·ble \-ˈtrō-lə-bəl\ adjective
— con·trol·ment \-ˈtrōl-mənt\ noun
See control defined for English-language learners
See control defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of CONTROL
Middle English countrollen, from Anglo-French contrerouler, from contreroule copy of an account, audit, from Medieval Latin contrarotulus, from Latin contra- + Medieval Latin rotulus roll — more at roll
Related to CONTROL
Synonym Discussion of CONTROL
conduct, manage, control, direct mean to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate. conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group <conducted negotiations>. manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result <manages a meat market>. control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course <controlling his appetite>. direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation <directs the store's day-to-day business>.
Rhymes with CONTROL
airhole, armhole, atoll, bankroll, beadroll, bedroll, black hole, blackpoll, blowhole, borehole, bunghole, cajole, catchpole, charcoal, chuckhole, condole, console, creole, Creole, dipole, drumroll, dry hole, Dutch roll, egg roll, enroll, ensoul, extol, eyehole, field goal, fishbowl, flagpole, foxhole, funk hole, hard coal, half sole, heart-whole, hellhole, Huichol, inscroll, insole, in whole, keyhole, kneehole, knothole, leaf roll, logroll, loophole, manhole, maypole, midsole, Mongol, outsole, parole, patrol, payroll, peephole, pesthole, pinhole, pistole, pitchpole, porthole, posthole, pothole, redpoll, ridgepole, Sheol, shot hole, sinkhole, ski pole, slipsole, snap roll, sotol, sound hole, spring roll, tadpole, taphole, thumbhole, top-hole, touchhole, unroll, washbowl, weep hole, white hole, wormhole
2control
noun, often attributive
: the power to make decisions about how something is managed or done
: the ability to direct the actions of someone or something
: an action, method, or law that limits the amount or growth of something
Full Definition of CONTROL
1
a : an act or instance of controlling; also : power or authority to guide or manage b : skill in the use of a tool, instrument, technique, or artistic medium c : the regulation of economic activity especially by government directive —usually used in plural <price controls> d : the ability of a baseball pitcher to control the location of a pitch within the strike zone
3
: one that controls: as a (1) : an experiment in which the subjects are treated as in a parallel experiment except for omission of the procedure or agent under test and which is used as a standard of comparison in judging experimental effects —called also control experiment (2) : one (as an organism, culture, or group) that is part of a control b : a device or mechanism used to regulate or guide the operation of a machine, apparatus, or system c : an organization that directs a spaceflight <mission control> d : a personality or spirit believed to actuate the utterances or performances of a spiritualist medium
See control defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CONTROL
1590
Related to CONTROL
- Synonyms
- controller, regulator
- Antonyms
- nonpossession
Synonym Discussion of CONTROL
power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine. power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence <the power to mold public opinion>. authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits <granted the authority to manage her estate>. jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits <the bureau having jurisdiction over parks>. control stresses the power to direct and restrain <you are responsible for the students under your control>. command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience <the army officer in command>. sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence <the empire extended its sway over the region>. dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority <given dominion over all the animals>.
power, force, energy, strength, might mean the ability to exert effort. power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon <the awesome power of flowing water>. force implies the actual effective exercise of power <used enough force to push the door open>. energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work <a worker with boundless energy>. strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack <use weight training to build your strength>. might implies great or overwhelming power or strength <the belief that might makes right>.
power, force, energy, strength, might mean the ability to exert effort. power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon <the awesome power of flowing water>. force implies the actual effective exercise of power <used enough force to push the door open>. energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work <a worker with boundless energy>. strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack <use weight training to build your strength>. might implies great or overwhelming power or strength <the belief that might makes right>.
Other Occult Terms
CONTROL Defined for Kids
1control
verb con·trol \kən-ˈtrōl\
con·trolledcon·trol·ling
Definition of CONTROL for Kids
1
: to have power over <"Ah, gods, plural, as in, great beings that control the forces of nature and human endeavors…" — Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief>
2
: to direct the actions or behavior of <Police can control a crowd.>
3
: to keep within bounds : restrain <Learn to control your temper.>
4
: to direct the function of <How do you control this machine?>
Word History of CONTROL
In medieval England, records were kept in a variety of French. In this variety of French, a contreroule, or “counter-roll,” was a piece of parchment on which payments and receipts were written down. The verb contrerouler meant to check the original records against the “counter-roll” to be sure no mistakes were made. These two words were the source of our noun and verb control. The sense “checking for mistakes” survives in the way we use control to mean something used to check the results of a scientific experiment.
2control
noun
Definition of CONTROL for Kids
1
: the power or authority to manage <The city wanted local control of education.>
2
: ability to keep within bounds or direct the operation of <The fire is out of control.> <He lost control of the car.>
3
: self-restraint <I lost control and started yelling.>
4
: regulation 2 <price controls>
5
: a device used to start, stop, or change the operation of a machine or system <a radio control>
6
: something that is not treated or exposed to testing in an experiment in order to serve as a comparison to others that have undergone treatment or exposure
Learn More About CONTROL
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: control accountPrevious Word in the Dictionary: contrivedAll Words Near: control
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up control? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).