I. ˌre-gyə-ˈlā-shən, ˌre-gə- also ˌrā- noun
Date: 1665
1. : the act of regulating : the state of being regulated
2.
a. : an authoritative rule dealing with details or procedure
safety regulation s
b. : a rule or order issued by an executive authority or regulatory agency of a government and having the force of law
3.
a. : the process of redistributing material (as in an embryo) to restore a damaged or lost part independent of new tissue growth
b. : the mechanism by which an early embryo maintains normal development
Synonyms: see law
II. adjective
Date: circa 1839
: conforming to regulations : official