Control means having the power to direct, manage, or regulate something. When you're in control of a bicycle, you can steer it where you want to go, speed up, slow down, or stop. When a pilot has control of an airplane, she operates all its systems to guide it safely through the sky.

Control can apply to things, situations, or even yourself. A thermostat controls the temperature in a house. A teacher maintains control of a classroom by setting clear expectations and keeping students focused. When you control your temper during an argument, you manage your emotions instead of letting them manage you.

The word also describes influence or authority over something. A company that controls a large share of the market dominates that industry. A general who controls the territory has military authority over that region. Countries have fought wars throughout history over control of strategic locations like harbors or mountain passes.

Being out of control means something has escaped management or regulation: a car skidding on ice is out of control, and so is a situation that's become chaotic. People also use control as a noun, like the controls in a video game (the buttons and joysticks you use to play), or a TV remote control that operates the television from across the room.