regulate

CEFRB2

/ˈɹɛɡjəleɪ̯t/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To control an activity or process with rules or limits.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To adjust (a mechanism) for accurate and proper functioning.

Examples

  • During warm weather, sweating helps man regulate his body temperature.

  • Traffic lights are used to regulate traffic.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4

Also pronounced

  • /ˈɾɛɡ(j)ʊleʈ/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law.

  2. To dictate policy.

  3. To put or maintain in order.

More examples

In context

  • to regulate the temperature of a room, the pressure of steam, the speed of a machine, etc.

  • to regulate a watch, i.e. adjust its rate of running so that it will keep approximately standard time

  • to regulate the disordered state of a nation or its finances

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The smart thermostat helps to blank the temperature in the house automatically all day.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

Borrowed from Latin regulatus, perfect passive participle of regulō (“to direct, rule, regulate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from regula (“rule”), from regō (“to keep straight, direct, govern, rule”). Compare regle, rail. Displaced native Old English metegian.