2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Regulate  \Reg"u*late\  (-l[=a]t),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Regulated} 
  (-l[=a]`t[e^]d);  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Regulating}.]  [L. 
  regulatus  p.  p.  of  regulare,  fr  regula.  See  {Regular}.] 
  1.  To  adjust  by  rule  method,  or  established  mode;  to  direct 
  by  rule  or  restriction;  to  subject  to  governing  principles 
  or  laws. 
 
  The  laws  which  regulate  the  successions  of  the 
  seasons.  --Macaulay. 
 
  The  herdsmen  near  the  frontier  adjudicated  their  own 
  disputes,  and  regulated  their  own  police. 
  --Bancroft. 
 
  2.  To  put  in  good  order  as  to  regulate  the  disordered  state 
  of  a  nation  or  its  finances. 
 
  3.  To  adjust  or  maintain,  with  respect  to  a  desired  rate, 
  degree,  or  condition;  as  to  regulate  the  temperature  of  a 
  room  the  pressure  of  steam,  the  speed  of  a  machine,  etc 
 
  {To  regulate  a  watch}  or  {clock},  to  adjust  its  rate  of 
  running  so  that  it  will  keep  approximately  standard  time. 
 
  Syn:  To  adjust  dispose;  methodize;  arrange;  direct;  order 
  rule  govern. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  regulate 
  v  1:  fix  or  adjust  the  time,  amount,  degree,  or  rate  of 
  "regulate  the  temperature";  "modulate  the  pitch"  [syn:  {modulate}] 
  2:  impose  regulations  on  [syn:  {regularize},  {order},  {govern}] 
  [ant:  {deregulate}] 
  3:  shape  or  influence;  give  direction  to  "experience  often 
  determines  ability"  [syn:  {determine},  {shape},  {influence}] 
  4:  check  the  emission  of  (sound)  [syn:  {baffle}] 

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