regulator

[reg-yuh-ley-ter]

noun

1. a person or thing that regulates.

2. Horology.

   1. an adjustable device in a clock or a watch for making it go faster or slower.

   2. a master clock, usually of great accuracy, against which other clocks are checked.

3. Machinery.

   1. a governor mechanism for regulating the flow of fuel, steam, etc., to an engine in order to maintain constant speed under varying load or resistance.

   2. a valve for regulating the pressure of flowing gas or liquid to maintain a predetermined pressure.

   3. any of various mechanisms for maintaining a temperature, a level of liquid in a tank, etc.

4. Electricity.,  a device for maintaining a designated characteristic, as voltage or current, at a predetermined value, or for varying it according to a predetermined plan.

5. a device on scuba equipment for regulating the rate at which compressed air is fed through a breathing tube in proportion to the depth of water.

6. a device for maintaining a constant gas pressure.

7. (initial capital letter)

   1. a member of any of several bands or committees in North Carolina (1767–71), formed to resist certain abuses, as extortion by officials.

   2. (in newly settled areas) a member of any band or committee organized to preserve order before the establishment of regular legal authority.

regulator

/ ˈrɛɡjʊˌleɪtə /

noun

1. a person or thing that regulates

2. the mechanism, including the hairspring and the balance wheel, by which the speed of a timepiece is regulated

3. a timepiece, known to be accurate, by which others are timed and regulated

4. any of various mechanisms or devices, such as a governor valve, for controlling fluid flow, pressure, temperature, voltage, etc

5. Also called: regulator gene. a gene the product of which controls the synthesis of a product from another gene

Word History and Origins

Origin of regulator¹

First recorded in 1645–55; regulate + -or ²

Example Sentences

On Friday, media regulator Roskomnadzor announced it was considering fully banning WhatsApp, accusing it of being a vessel to perpetrate "crime".

Read more on Barron's

A train service taking commuters from Manchester to London is to run empty for around five months following a decision by the rail regulator.

Read more on BBC

Federal regulators call it a growing epidemic, and stopping the thieves has become a game of cat and mouse for law enforcement.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

France’s market regulator had earlier this year required Bollore to bid for full ownership of Vivendi, a decision based on the initial court ruling.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

However, they think that the regulator’s preemptive tightening of rules reduces risk of more significant restrictions later on, and still see housing credit growth accelerating to 8% on-year by the middle of 2026.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• manager