transitive verb controlled -·trolled′, controlling -·trol′·ling

1. Obsolete to check or verify (payments, accounts, etc.) by comparison with a duplicate register
2. to regulate (financial affairs)
3. to verify (an experiment) by comparison with a standard or by other experiments
4. to exercise authority over; direct; command
5. to operate or regulate this knob controls the volume of sound
6. to hold back; curb; restrain control your grief

Etymology: ME countrollen < Anglo-Fr contreroller < Fr contrerole < ML contrarotulus, a counter, register < L contra, against + rotulus: see roll

noun

1. the act or fact of controlling; power to direct or regulate; ability to use effectively her control over her passions, the violinist's control of his vibrato
2. the condition of being directed or restrained; restraint the car went out of control
3. a means of controlling; check wage and price controls
4. a standard of comparison for verifying or checking the findings of an experiment; specif., such a standard obtained by withholding the substance, treatment, drug, etc. being tested
5. 1. an instrument or apparatus to regulate a mechanism: usually used in pl.
   2. a device used to adjust or control the volume control on an amplifier
6. a spirit supposed to direct the actions and speech of a spiritualistic medium