Main Entry: reg·u·late

Pronunciation: \ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt also ˈrā-\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): reg·u·lat·ed; reg·u·lat·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin regulatus, past participle of regulare, from Latin regula rule

Date: 15th century

1 a : to govern or direct according to rule b (1) : to bring under the control of law or constituted authority (2) : to make regulations for or concerning <regulate the industries of a country>
2 : to bring order, method, or uniformity to <regulate one's habits>
3 : to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of <regulate the pressure of a tire>

— reg·u·la·tive \-ˌlā-tiv\ adjective

— reg·u·la·to·ry \-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective