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say it: kuhn-TROHL
control is a noun and verb meaning "power to direct or determine". It carries 20 recorded senses.
a relation of constraint of one entity (thing or person or group) by another
“measures for the control of disease”
“they instituted controls over drinking on campus”
(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”
physiology
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”
the activity of managing or exerting control over something
“the control of the mob by the police was admirable”
the state that exists when one person or group has power over another
“her apparent dominance of her husband was really her attempt to make him pay attention to her”
discipline in personal and social activities
“he was a model of polite restraint”
“she never lost control of herself”
great skillfulness and knowledge of some subject or activity
“a good command of French”
a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine
“the speed controller on his turntable was not working properly”
“I turned the controls over to her”
a spiritual agency that is assumed to assist the medium during a seance
the economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.
“they wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls”
exercise authoritative control or power over
“control the budget”
“Command the military forces”
handle and cause to function
“do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol”
“control the lever”
maintain influence over (others or oneself) skillfully, usually to one's advantage
“She manipulates her boss”
“She is a very controlling mother and doesn't let her children grow up”
“The teacher knew how to keep the class in line”
“she keeps in line”
Forms marked · are formed by the regular rule rather than recorded in the source data. English keeps a few hundred irregulars and the rest follow the pattern, so the rule is right far more often than not — but it is a rule, and the mark says so.
Definitions, synonyms and semantic relations for control come from Princeton University’s WordNet. The pronunciation comes from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. Commonness is measured against a corpus of everyday English. Full sources and licences.