regulator

(regyə lāt′ər)

noun

a person or thing that regulates; specif.,
  1. a mechanism for controlling or governing the movement of machinery, the flow of liquids, gases, electricity, steam, etc.; governor
  2. the part of the works of a watch or clock by which its speed is adjusted
  3. an accurate timepiece serving as a standard by which others are regulated

Origin: ML

See regulator in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. One that regulates, as:
    a. The mechanism in a watch by which its speed is governed.
    b. A highly accurate clock used as a standard for timing other clocks.
    c. A device used to maintain uniform speed in a machine; a governor.
    d. A device used to control the flow of gases, liquids, or electric current.
  2. One, such as the member of a governmental regulatory agency, that ensures compliance with laws, regulations, and established rules: banking regulators; price regulators.
  3. A substance that affects the amount of product or the progress of a biochemical reaction or process: a regulator of embryogenesis.
  4. See regulator gene.

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