control

noun

1》 the power to influence people's behaviour or the course of events.

    ↘the restriction of an activity, tendency, or phenomenon.

2》 a device by which a machine is regulated: the volume control.

3》 a person or thing used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a survey or experiment.

4》 a member of an intelligence organization who personally directs the activities of a spy.

5》 Bridge a high card that will prevent the opponents from establishing a particular suit.

verb (controls, controlling, controlled)

1》 have control or command of.

    ↘regulate.

2》 [as adjective controlled] (of a drug) restricted by law in respect of use and possession.

3》 (control for) take into account (an extraneous factor that might affect the results of an experiment).

Phrases

in control able to direct a situation, person, or activity.

out of control no longer able to be managed.

under control (of a danger or emergency) being dealt with or contained successfully.

Derivatives

controllability noun

controllable adjective

controllably adverb

controller noun

controllership noun

Origin

ME (in the sense 'verify accounts'): from Anglo-Norman Fr. contreroller 'keep a copy of a roll of accounts', from med. L. contrarotulare, from contrarotulus 'copy of a roll', from contra- 'against' + rotulus 'a roll'.