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regulate |
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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