to adjust (the amount of heat, sound, etc, of something) as required; control to adjust (an instrument or appliance) so that it operates correctly to bring into conformity with a rule, principle, or usage
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
reg•u•late /ˈrɛgyəˌleɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -lat•ed, -lat•ing.
reg•u•la•tor, n. [countable]See -reg-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to control or direct by a rule, principle, or method:Laws exist to regulate traffic on the highways.
- to adjust to some standard or requirement:to regulate the temperature.
- to adjust so as to be accurate or correct:to regulate a watch.
- to put in good order:to regulate one's diet.
reg•u•la•tor, n. [countable]See -reg-.
reg•u•late
(reg′yə lāt′),USA pronunciation v.t., -lat•ed, -lat•ing.
reg•u•la•tive
(reg′yə lā′tiv, -yə lə tiv),USA pronunciation reg•u•la•to•ry
(reg′yə lə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē),USA pronunciation adj.
reg′u•la′tive•ly, adv.
- to control or direct by a rule, principle, method, etc.:to regulate household expenses.
- to adjust to some standard or requirement, as amount, degree, etc.:to regulate the temperature.
- to adjust so as to ensure accuracy of operation:to regulate a watch.
- to put in good order:to regulate the digestion.
- Late Latin rēgulātus (past participle of rēgulāre). See regula, -ate1
- 1620–30;
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged rule, govern, manage, order, adjust, arrange, dispose, conduct.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged set.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged systematize.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'regulated' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Civil Aeronautics Board
- Federal Reserve System
- Keyes technique
- Office of Defense Transportation
- Pianola
- Thorndike
- War Manpower Commission
- War Production Board
- airlock
- anarchic
- atomic clock
- chi
- clepsydra
- dietary
- directed
- expediential
- float bowl
- float valve
- freeboard
- illegal
- inordinate
- law of the jungle
- maneuver
- measured
- ordination
- public utility
- quasi-regulated
- re-lay
- regimen
- regulable
- regulation
- regulator
- rent-stabilized
- savings and loan association
- scientific
- season
- self-regulated
- syllabic
- unballasted
- unfair practice
- well-balanced
- well-regulated
- wicket