control

S2 W1

BrE /kənˈtrəʊl/ AmE /kənˈtroʊl/

noun / verb en → es

past controlled pp controlled ing controlling

1 MANAGE [uncountable] B1

the power to make decisions and give orders; the ability to manage or direct something

control, manejo, dirección

  • have control over somebody/something

Collocations lose control of a situation · take control of something

  • The company is now under new management and has better control.

    La empresa ahora está bajo nueva administración y tiene un mejor control.

2 REGULATE [transitive] B1

to make sure that something happens in a particular way; to limit or prevent something from happening

controlar, regular, limitar

  • control something

Collocations control pollution · control a disease outbreak

  • The government is trying to control the spread of the virus.

    El gobierno está tratando de controlar la propagación del virus.

3 DEVICE [countable] B1

a device that controls or operates something else, such as a machine or electrical appliance

controlador, interruptor, dispositivo de control

  • press the control button

Collocations remote control · joystick control

  • Press this button to turn on the TV.

    Presione este botón para encender la televisión.

4 TEST [countable] B2

a test or examination used to check if something is working properly, or to measure how well it works

prueba, examen, control

  • carry out a control

Collocations quality control · safety control

  • The factory conducts regular quality controls.

    La fábrica realiza controles de calidad regulares.

5 LIMIT [transitive] B2

to limit or restrict something, especially in order to prevent it from becoming too great or too powerful

limitar, controlar, regular

  • control something

Collocations control access to a building · control the number of visitors

  • The government has imposed strict controls on immigration.

    El gobierno ha impuesto estrictos controles en la inmigración.

6 INFLUENCE [transitive] C1

to influence or affect the way something happens, especially by making decisions about it

influenciar, controlar, manejar

  • control how something is done

Collocations control the flow of information · control public opinion

  • The media can control what people think.

    Los medios pueden influir en lo que la gente piensa.

7 CHECK [transitive] C1

to check or examine something carefully to make sure it is correct, safe, or working properly

revisar, comprobar, controlar

  • control something

Collocations control the accuracy of data · control the safety of a product

  • We need to control the quality of our products.

    Necesitamos revisar la calidad de nuestros productos.

8 GUIDE [transitive] C1

to guide or direct something, especially a vehicle or aircraft

dirigir, guiar, controlar

  • control the movement of something

Collocations control an airplane · control a car

  • The pilot lost control of the plane.

    El piloto perdió el control del avión.

Phrasal verbs

control out REMOVE B2

quitar, sacar de control

  • The police had to control the protesters out of the building.

    La policía tuvo que sacar a los manifestantes del edificio.

control over POWER B1

tener el control sobre algo

  • He has complete control over his company.

    Él tiene un completo control sobre su empresa.

control up INCREASE B2

aumentar el control, subir la regulación

  • The manager decided to control the budget up.

    El gerente decidió aumentar el presupuesto.

control down DECREASE B2

disminuir el control, bajar la regulación

  • The company decided to control the costs down.

    La empresa decidió disminuir los costos.

control in BRING IN B2

traer en control, introducir

  • The new system will control the data in.

    El nuevo sistema traerá los datos en.

Idioms

lose control of something B2

perder el control de algo

  • He lost control of his car on the icy road.

    Perdió el control de su coche en la carretera helada.

be out of control B2

estar fuera de control

  • The situation is completely out of control.

    La situación está completamente fuera de control.

take control B2

tomar el control, asumir la dirección

  • She took control of the situation.

    Ella tomó el control de la situación.