2 N‑UNCOUNT If you have control of something or someone, you are able to make them do what you want them to do. □ [+ of ] He lost control of his car. □ [+ over ] Some teachers have more control over pupils than their parents have.
3 N‑UNCOUNT If you show control , you prevent yourself behaving in an angry or emotional way. □ He had a terrible temper, and sometimes he would completely lose control. □ He was working hard to keep control of himself.
4 VERB The people who control an organization or place have the power to take all the important decisions about the way that it is run. □ [V n] He now controls the largest retail development empire in southern California. □ [V -ing] Minebea ended up selling its controlling interest in both firms. ● -controlled COMB □ AGA Gas is Swedish-controlled. □ …the state-controlled media.
5 VERB To control a piece of equipment, process, or system means to make it work in the way that you want it to work. □ [V n] …a computerised system to control the gates. □ [V -ed] …the controlled production of energy from sugar by a cell. ● -controlled COMB □ …computer-controlled traffic lights.
6 VERB When a government controls prices, wages, or the activity of a particular group, it uses its power to restrict them. □ [V n] The federal government tried to control rising health-care costs. ● N‑UNCOUNT Control is also a noun. □ [+ of ] Control of inflation remains the government's absolute priority.
7 VERB If you control yourself , or if you control your feelings, voice, or expression, you make yourself behave calmly even though you are feeling angry, excited, or upset. □ [V pron-refl] Jo was advised to learn to control herself. □ [V n] I just couldn't control my temper. ● con|trolled ADJ □ Her manner was quiet and very controlled.
8 VERB To control something dangerous means to prevent it from becoming worse or from spreading. □ [V n] One of the biggest tasks will be to control the spread of malaria.
9 N‑COUNT A control is a device such as a switch or lever which you use in order to operate a machine or other piece of equipment. □ I practised operating the controls. □ …the control box. ● PHRASE If someone is at the controls of a machine or other piece of equipment, they are operating it. □ He died of a heart attack while at the controls of the plane.
10 N‑VAR Controls are the methods that a government uses to restrict increases, for example in prices, wages, or weapons. □ Critics question whether price controls would do any good. □ They have very strict gun control in Sweden.
11 N‑VAR [n N ] Control is used to refer to a place where your documents or luggage are officially checked when you enter a foreign country. □ He went straight through Passport Control without incident.
12 → see also air traffic control , birth control , quality control , remote control , stock control
13 PHRASE If something is out of control , no-one has any power over it. □ The fire is burning out of control.
14 PHRASE If something harmful is under control , it is being dealt with successfully and is unlikely to cause any more harm. □ If the current violence is to be brought under control, the government needs to act.
con|tro l freak (control freaks ) N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a control freak , you mean that they want to be in control of every situation they find themselves in. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
con|trol|lable /kəntroʊ ləb ə l/ ADJ If something is controllable you are able to control or influence it. □ This makes the surfboards more controllable. □ …controllable aspects of life.
con|trol|ler /kəntroʊ lə r / (controllers )
1 N‑COUNT A controller is a person who has responsibility for a particular organization or for a particular part of an organization. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ of ] …the job of controller of BBC 1. □ [+ of ] …the financial controller of W H Smith.
2 → see also air traffic controller
3 N‑COUNT A controller is the same as a comptroller .
con|tro l tow|er (control towers ) N‑COUNT A control tower is a building at an airport from which instructions are given to aircraft when they are taking off or landing. You can also refer to the people who work in a control tower as the control tower . □ The pilot told the control tower that he'd run into technical trouble.
con|tro|ver|sial ◆◇◇ /kɒ ntrəvɜː r ʃ ə l/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as controversial , you mean that they are the subject of intense public argument, disagreement, or disapproval. □ Immigration is a controversial issue in many countries. □ The changes are bound to be controversial. ● con|tro|ver|sial|ly ADV [oft ADV with v] □ More controversially, he claims that these higher profits cover the cost of finding fresh talent.
con|tro|ver|sy ◆◇◇ /kɒ ntrəvɜː r si, kəntrɒ və r si/ (controversies ) N‑VAR Controversy is a lot of discussion and argument about something, often involving strong feelings of anger or disapproval. □ The proposed cuts have caused considerable controversy. [Also + over/about ] SYNONYMS controversy NOUN
argument: The issue has caused heated political argument.