control

== English == === Alternative forms === comptrol, comptroll, controll, controul, countrol (obsolete) Ctrl (abbreviation, computing) === Etymology === From Middle English controllen, from Old French contrerole, from Medieval Latin contrārotulus (“a counter-roll or register used to verify accounts”), from Latin contrā (“against, opposite”) + Medieval Latin rotulus, Latin rotula (“roll, a little wheel”), diminutive of rota (“a wheel”). Partly displaced native Old English wealdan and Old English wieldan, whence their merged reflex English wield. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /kənˈtɹəʊl/, [kənˈtɹɒʊl], (doll–dole merger) /kənˈtɹɒl/ (US) IPA(key): /kənˈtɹoʊl/ (Australian) IPA(key): /kənˈtɹəʉl/ (New Zealand) IPA(key): /kənˈtɹɐʉl/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /kənˈtɾol/ (Wales, without the toe–tow merger) IPA(key): /kənˈtɾoːl/ Rhymes: -əʊl Hyphenation: con‧trol === Verb === control (third-person singular simple present controls, present participle controlling, simple past and past participle controlled) (transitive) To exercise influence over; to suggest or dictate the behavior of. Synonyms: besteer, bewield, manage, puppeteer, rule, govern (transitive, statistics) (construed with for) To design (an experiment) so that the effects of one or more variables are reduced or eliminated. (transitive, archaic) To verify the accuracy of (something or someone, especially a financial account) by comparison with another account. (transitive, obsolete) To call to account, to take to task, to challenge. (transitive) To hold in check, to curb, to restrain. ==== Antonyms ==== defy, rebel, resist (not to be controlled) obey, submit (to be controlled) ==== Hyponyms ==== take control, take the reins, hold the reins, mind ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== regulate === Noun === control (countable and uncountable, plural controls) (countable, uncountable) An influence or authority over something. Synonym: command The method and means of governing the performance of any apparatus, machine or system, such as a lever, handle or button. Restraint or ability to contain one's movements or emotions, or self-control. A security mechanism, policy, or procedure that can counter system attack, reduce risks, and resolve vulnerabilities; a safeguard or countermeasure. (project management) A means of monitoring for, and triggering intervention in, activities that are not going according to plan. A control group or control experiment. A duplicate book, register, or account, kept to correct or check another account or register. (graphical user interface) An interface element that a computer user interacts with, such as a window or a text box. Synonym: widget (climatology) Any of the physical factors determining the climate of a place, such as latitude, distribution of land and water, altitude, exposure, prevailing winds, permanent high- or low-barometric-pressure areas, ocean currents, mountain barriers, soil, and vegetation. (linguistics) A construction in which the understood subject of a given predicate is determined by an expression in context. See control. (parapsychology) A spirit that takes possession of a psychic or medium and allows other spirits to communicate with the living. (cycling, countable) A checkpoint along an audax route. ==== Hyponyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === “control”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin Eli Smith, editors (1895–1910), “control”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. control on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Control in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911) “control”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000. “control”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “control”, in Online Etymology Dictionary. == Catalan == === Etymology === Borrowed from French contrôle. First attested in 1917. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Northern) [kunˈtɾo̞l] IPA(key): (Balearic, Valencia, Northwestern) [konˈtɾɔl] IPA(key): (Central) [kunˈtɾɔl] === Noun === control m (plural controls) control check, inspection checkpoint influence, authority ==== Derived terms ==== controlar control de qualitat telecontrol === References === === Further reading === “control”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007 “control” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua. Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “control”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan) == Italian == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English control. The abbreviated form CTRL is pronounced the same. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈkɔn.trol/ Rhymes: -ɔntrol Hyphenation: còn‧trol === Noun === control m (computer hardware, with tasto (“key, keystroke”)) control key == Portuguese == === Etymology === Unadapted borrowing from English control. The established pronunciation reflects a widespread mispronunciation of the English word. Doublet of controle and controlo. === Pronunciation === Rhymes: (Portugal) -ɔl Hyphenation: con‧trol === Noun === control m (plural controls) (computer hardware) control key ==== Derived terms ==== control C control V == Romanian == === Etymology === Borrowed from French contrôle. === Pronunciation === === Noun === control n (plural controale) control ==== Declension ==== == Spanish == === Etymology === Borrowed from French contrôle. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /konˈtɾol/ [kõn̪ˈt̪ɾol] Rhymes: -ol Syllabification: con‧trol === Noun === control m (plural controles) control, or running of a business control of a machine Synonyms: control remoto, mando, mando a distancia, telemando control or emotional restraint, self-control (Latin America) remote control Synonyms: control remoto, mando, mando a distancia (video games, Latin America) controller, gamepad, joypad Synonym: mando (medicine) checkup Synonym: chequeo ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “control”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025