Regulate
Pronunciation
Origin
From Latin regulatus, past participle of regulare ("to direct, rule, regulate"), from regula ("rule"), from regere ("to keep straight, direct, govern, rule"). Compare regle, rail.
Full definition of regulate
Verb
- To dictate policy.
- To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law.
- Macaulaythe laws which regulate the successions of the seasons
- BancroftThe herdsmen near the frontier adjudicated their own disputes, and regulated their own police.
- To adjust to a particular specification or requirement: regulate temperature.
- To adjust (a mechanism) for accurate and proper functioning.to regulate a watch, i.e. adjust its rate of running so that it will keep approximately standard timeto regulate the temperature of a room, the pressure of steam, the speed of a machine, etc.
- To put or maintain in order.to regulate the disordered state of a nation or its financesto regulate one's eating habits