A noun referring to the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events, or to a device or mechanism that regulates an operation or system. It can denote authority, command, or restraint, and is also used in contexts like software or project management to describe governance or monitoring. The term encompasses both psychological influence and physical mechanisms.
"He gained control of the company after the merger."
"The remote control sits on the coffee table."
"She wrestled with the controls to steer the drone safely."
"The software provides real-time control over system settings."
The word control originates from the Old French contrer, from Latin contra- meaning against, and the sense of steering or restraining emerged in the 14th century via Anglo-Norman and Middle English. Early senses include ‘to check, regulate, or govern’ and were often applied to governance and military contexts. In the late medieval period, control began to imply a ratio of restraint or management, as in controlling an engine or a battlefield. By the 16th–17th centuries, the term extended to more abstract governance, such as controlling one’s emotions or a process. The modern sense of control as a mechanism or device (e.g., a control lever, remote control) solidified in the 19th and 20th centuries with advances in machinery, aviation, and computing. First known uses appear in legal and technical texts that describe limits and governance before becoming everyday in technology and psychology.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Control" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Control" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Control"
-oll sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as kən-ˈtrōl in US and kən-ˈtrəʊl in UK/AU. The primary stress is on the second syllable: /kənˈtroʊl/ (US) or /kənˈtrəʊl/ (UK/AU). Start with a schwa /ə/ in the first syllable, then the /tr/ cluster blends into a long /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ mooded by a light, quick L at the end. Visualize: cuhN- TROHL, ensuring the /t/ is released crisply and the /l/ is light and clear. For accuracy, listen to a native speaker and imitate the mouth shape: relaxed jaw, rounded lips for /oʊ/.
Common errors include pronouncing it as con-TROLL with primary stress on the first syllable, which changes meaning in some contexts. Another frequent mistake is mispronouncing the /tr/ as a simple /t/ + /r/ sequence without achieving the correct blend; the /tr/ should be a tightly released cluster leading into /oʊ/. Finally, giving the /l/ too dark or too fronted can blur the final syllable. Focus on the schwa in the first syllable and a crisp /troʊl/ or /trəʊl/ in the second.
In US English, you’ll hear /kənˈtroʊl/ with a rhotic /r/ and a pronounced /oʊ/. UK/AU typically use /kənˈtrəʊl/ with a non-rhotic /r/ and a shorter, rounded /əʊ/ vowel; some AU speakers tilt toward British pronunciation. The key difference is vowel quality in the second syllable and rhoticity: Americans keep the /r/ in all positions, while many UK/AU speakers do not pronounce the /r/ unless followed by a vowel. Practice both to hear the distinct flavors: US smooth /troʊl/ vs UK/AU /trəʊl/.
The difficulty mainly lies in the /tr/ cluster before a long vowel and the final /l/ in many dialects. The /t/ must be released quickly into /r/ to create a seamless /tr/ blend, which can be awkward for non-native speakers. The first syllable’s schwa can also be reduced variably, affecting rhythm. Additionally, subtle vowel length differences (/oʊ/ vs /əʊ/) can alter intelligibility if misproduced. Focused practice on the /tr/ sequence and final /l/ can help stabilize pronunciation.
A word-specific nuance is the characteristic strong stress pattern with the second syllable receiving primary emphasis, and a clear /tr/ blend that should not be reinterpreted as /t/ + /l/ or /dr/. You should also avoid conflating it with ‘control’ as a noun vs verb in fast speech; the noun form still uses the same stress pattern. Paying attention to the crisp /tr/ onset and a sharp /l/ at the end makes it sound natural across contexts.
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