control

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The power to direct, manage, or make decisions about something.

   The police kept the crowd under control.

2. 2
   verb

   To direct or manage how something behaves or happens.

   A thermostat controls the temperature in the room.

3. 3
   noun

   A switch, button, or device that operates a machine.

   The speed control on the turntable was broken.

4. 4
   noun

   A standard used for comparison in a scientific experiment.

   The control group received no medicine at all.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Control entered English in the late Middle Ages from Anglo-Norman French contreroller, “keep a copy of a roll of accounts,” from Latin contrarotulus, “copy of a roll.” Its early sense was “check or verify accounts,” usually by referring to a duplicate register.

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.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary