regulate

reg·u·late

verb \ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt also ˈrā-\

reg·u·lat·edreg·u·lat·ing

Definition of REGULATE

transitive verb

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

Examples of REGULATE

1. The dam regulates the flow of water into the river.
2. We need better laws to regulate the content of the Internet.
3. Laws have been made to regulate working conditions.
4. The government regulates how much lead may be found in our water supply.
5. The department regulates foreign trade.

Origin of REGULATE

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to REGULATE

Synonyms: bridle, check, constrain, contain, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, control, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame

Antonyms: lose

Related Words: bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow; arrest, interrupt, stop; block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct; gag, muzzle, silence

Near Antonyms: liberate, loose, loosen, unleash; air, express, take out, vent

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with REGULATE

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