control
verb
controlled;
controlling
Definition of control
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
archaic
: to check, test, or verify by evidence or experiments
b
: to incorporate suitable controls in
a controlled experiment
: to incorporate controls in an experiment or study
—used with for control for socioeconomic differences
Definition of control (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: an act or instance of controlling
also
: power or authority to guide or manage
He took control of the family business.
b
: skill in the use of a tool, instrument, technique, or artistic medium
a singer's control of her voice
c
: the regulation of economic activity especially by government directive
—usually used in plural price controlsrent controls
d
: the ability of a baseball pitcher to control the location of a pitch within the strike zone
3
: one that controls: such 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 (such 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
the controls of the aircraft
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