regulator

Academic Word List, sublist 2.

About 2.80 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A device that controls or limits something.

   The regulator stopped working and the resulting overvoltage destroyed the device.

2. noun Ellipsis of voltage regulator.

   The regulator stopped working and the resulting overvoltage destroyed the device.

3. noun A person or group that sets standards of practice, especially regulatory law as sanctioned by statutory law.
4. noun A very accurate clock, used by clockmakers to measure the timekeeping of each newly made clock.
5. noun A gene involved in controlling the expression of one or more other genes.
6. noun A device that controls the supply of steam to the cylinders of a steam locomotive.
7. noun Synonym of bulldozer (“member of intimidating group of white US Southerners”).
8. noun A positive real number determining the density of the units in Dirichlet's unit theorem.

Similar words

governor meter window figure valve dispatcher weir policer riser buffer

Often followed by

of is and to in for gene or with

Word family

regulate regulated regulates regulating regulation regulations regulators regulatory