verb
control
kuhn-TROHL
verb
1
To direct or influence the behavior of someone or something.
"The pilot struggled to control the aircraft in the storm."
"She learned to control her temper over the years."
noun
1
Power or authority to direct or manage something.
"The new manager took control of the failing project."
2
A device such as a button, lever, or switch used to operate a machine.
"He fiddled with the controls until the volume was right."
3
A group or sample used as a baseline for comparison in an experiment.
"The control group received a placebo instead of the actual drug."
How to Use Control
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo have power over something, or the means (like a lever or button) used to direct it.
Common pairings
take control
lose control
control group
remote control
Word Forms
controlled past tense, controls plural, controls singular
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The pilot struggled to _____ the aircraft in the storm.
Etymology
From Old French contrerole, from Medieval Latin contrarotulus ("a counter-roll used to check accounts"), from Latin contra ("against") plus rotulus ("a roll").