Definition of control

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con·trol    (kn-trl) KEY 

TRANSITIVE VERB:
con·trolled, con·trol·ling, con·trols

1. To exercise authoritative or dominating influence over; direct. See Synonyms at conduct.
2. To adjust to a requirement; regulate: controlled trading on the stock market; controls the flow of water.
3. To hold in restraint; check: struggled to control my temper.
4. To reduce or prevent the spread of: control insects; controlled the fire by dousing it with water.
5. 1. To verify or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or by comparing with another standard.
   2. To verify (an account, for example) by using a duplicate register for comparison.

NOUN:

1. Authority or ability to manage or direct: lost control of the skidding car; the leaders in control of the country.
2. 1. One that controls; a controlling agent, device, or organization.
   2. An instrument or set of instruments used to operate, regulate, or guide a machine or vehicle. Often used in the plural.
3. A restraining device, measure, or limit; a curb: a control on prices; price controls.
4. 1. A standard of comparison for checking or verifying the results of an experiment.
   2. An individual or group used as a standard of comparison in a control experiment.
5. An intelligence agent who supervises or instructs another agent.
6. A spirit presumed to speak or act through a medium.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English controllen, from Anglo-Norman contreroller, from Medieval Latin contrrotulre, to check by duplicate register, from contrrotulus, duplicate register : Latin contr-, contra- + Latin rotulus, roll, diminutive of rota, wheel; see ret- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
con·trolla·bili·ty(Noun), con·trolla·ble(Adjective), con·trolla·bly(Adverb)