1. (

• regulate ,
• regularize ,
• regularise ,
• order ,
• govern ,

) bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations; "We cannot regulate the way people dress"; "This town likes to regulate" ;

2. (

• govern ,

) direct or strongly influence the behavior of; "His belief in God governs his conduct" ;

3. (

• govern ,
• rule

) exercise authority over; as of nations; "Who is governing the country now?" ;

4. (

• govern

) require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood; "most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German" ;