I. kən-ˈtrōl verb
( con·trolled ; con·trol·ling )
Etymology: Middle English countrollen, from Anglo-French contrerouler, from contreroule copy of an account, audit, from Medieval Latin contrarotulus, from Latin contra- + Medieval Latin rotulus roll — more at roll
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to check, test, or verify by evidence or experiments
b. : to incorporate suitable controls in
a controlled experiment
2.
a. : to exercise restraining or directing influence over : regulate
b. : to have power over : rule
c. : to reduce the incidence or severity of especially to innocuous levels
control an insect population
control a disease
intransitive verb
: to incorporate controls in an experiment or study — used with for
control for socioeconomic differences
Synonyms: see conduct
• con·trol·la·bil·i·ty -ˌtrō-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• con·trol·la·ble -ˈtrō-lə-bəl adjective
• con·trol·ment -ˈtrōl-mənt noun
II. noun
Usage: often attributive
Date: 1590
1.
a. : an act or instance of controlling ; also : power or authority to guide or manage
b. : skill in the use of a tool, instrument, technique, or artistic medium
c. : the regulation of economic activity especially by government directive — usually used in plural
price control s
d. : the ability of a baseball pitcher to control the location of a pitch within the strike zone
2. : restraint , reserve
3. : one that controls: as
a.
(1) : an experiment in which the subjects are treated as in a parallel experiment except for omission of the procedure or agent under test and which is used as a standard of comparison in judging experimental effects — called also control experiment
(2) : one (as an organism, culture, or group) that is part of a control
b. : a device or mechanism used to regulate or guide the operation of a machine, apparatus, or system
c. : an organization that directs a spaceflight
mission control
d. : a personality or spirit believed to actuate the utterances or performances of a spiritualist medium
Synonyms: see power