Control

Pronunciation

US IPA: /kÉ™nËˆt(Êƒ)roÊŠl/
UK IPA: /kÉ™nËˆtrÉ™ÊŠl/

Origin

From Middle English conterrolle, from Old French contrerole, from Medieval Latin contrarotulum ("a counter-roll or register used to verify accounts"), from Latin contra ("against, opposite") + Medieval Latin rotulus, Latin rotula ("roll, a little wheel"), diminutive of rota ("a wheel").

Full definition of control

Verb

To exercise influence over, to suggest or dictate the behavior of, oversit.

With a simple remote, he could control the toy truck.
2013-05-17, George Monbiot, Money just makes the rich suffer, In order to grant the rich these pleasures, the social contract is reconfigured. … The public realm is privatised, the regulations restraining the ultra–wealthy and the companies they control are abandoned, and Edwardian levels of inequality are almost fetishised.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

regulate

Noun

control

(countable and uncountable; plural controls)

(countable, uncountable) Influence or authority over.
The government has complete control over the situation.
A separate group or subject in an experiment against which the results are compared where the primary variable is low or non-existent.
The method and means of governing the performance of any apparatus, machine or system, such as a lever, handle or button.
Restraint or ability to contain one's movements or emotions, or self-control.

2012, John Branch, Snow Fall : The Avalanche at Tunnel CreekShe had no control of her body as she tumbled downhill. She did not know up from down. It was not unlike being cartwheeled in a relentlessly crashing wave.
2013-06-21, Oliver Burkeman, The tao of tech, The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about …, or offering services that let you... "share the things you love with the world" and so on. But the real way to build a successful online business is to be better than your rivals at undermining people's control of their own attention.

A security mechanism, policy, or procedure that can counter system attack, reduce risks, and resolve vulnerabilities; a safeguard or countermeasure.
(project management) A means of monitoring for, and triggering intervention in, activities that are not going according to plan.
A duplicate book, register, or account, kept to correct or check another account or register.
(graphical user interface) An interface element that a computer user interacts with, such as a window or a text box.