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1. Power to direct or determine
   "under control"
    
2. A relation of constraint of one entity (thing, person or group) by another
   "measures for the control of disease"; "they instituted controls over drinking on campus"
    
3. (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"
    
4. 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";
   - control condition
    
5. The activity of managing or exerting control over something
   "the control of the mob by the police was admirable"
    
6. The state that exists when one person or group has power over another
   "her apparent control of her husband was really her attempt to make him pay attention to her";
   - dominance, ascendance, ascendence, ascendancy, ascendency
    
7. Discipline in personal and social activities
   "she never lost control of herself";
   - restraint
    
8. Great skilfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity
   "a good control of French";
   - command, mastery
    
9. A mechanism that controls the operation of a machine
   "I turned the controls over to her";
   - controller
    
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.
    "they wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls"

1. Exercise authoritative control or power over
   "control the budget";
   - command
    
2. Lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
   "control your anger";
   - hold in, hold, contain, check, curb, moderate
    
3. Handle and cause to function
   "control the lever";
   - operate
    
4. Influence (others or oneself) skilfully, usually to one's advantage
   "She is a very controlling mother and doesn't let her children grow up";
   - manipulate, keep in line
    
5. (science) check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard
   "Are you controlling for the temperature?";
   - verify
    
6. Verify by using a duplicate register for comparison
   "control an account"
    
7. Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something
   "control the quality of the product";
   - see, check, insure, see to it, ensure, ascertain, assure
    
8. Have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of
   "Do you control these data?";
   - master
    
9. Determine; be able to change
   "rooms are equipped with air conditioning system to control the temperature";
   - govern

Derived forms: controlling, controlled, controls

Type of: activity, bodily function, bodily process, body process, condition, criterion, discipline, disembodied spirit, economic policy, essay, examine, hold back, interact, keep, keep back, know, manipulate, mechanism, power, powerfulness, prove, relation, restrain, skilfulness [Brit, Cdn], skillfulness [N. Amer], spirit, standard, status, test, trial, try, try out, verify

Part of: experiment, experimentation

Encyclopedia: Control, command and communication