to make something or someone behave, move, or work in the way you want
Strong winds controlled the direction of the fire.
You can control the toy car with this app on your phone.
to limit something or keep it from becoming too strong, large, or harmful
Medicine helped control his high blood pressure.
We need to control the spread of rumors before they damage the company.
to move by turning over and over on a surface, or to make something move this way
The ball rolled down the hill until it hit a tree.
She laughed as her puppy tried to roll onto its back to get a belly rub.
✦ Old French “roller”, from Latin “rotulus” (small wheel), related to “rota” meaning wheel.
turning over and over while moving, or making something do this
The ball kept rolling down the hill.
She was rolling the dough into a perfect circle for the pizza.
to move forward on wheels
The train slowly rolled out of the station.
Make sure the stroller’s wheels are locked, or it might roll down the ramp.
to shape something by turning it round and round, usually into a tube or ball
She rolled the dough into thin circles for the tortillas.
He rolled a sheet of paper to make a telescope for the kids.
(informal, film) to start or continue recording video or sound
“Camera’s rolling!” the director shouted before the actors began the scene.
Keep it rolling—we might catch a candid moment.
to officially put yourself or someone else on the list for a school, course, program, or organization
After moving to the city, Maria decided to enroll in an evening cooking class.
High-school seniors must enroll online before the deadline to secure their places at the university.
✦ Late Middle English, from Old French enroller ‘place on a list’, from en- ‘in’ + rolle ‘a roll or list’.
to officially add yourself or someone else to the list of members or students of a course, school, or organisation
Lucy plans to enrol on a French course this autumn.
Students who enrol early often receive a discount on tuition fees.
✦ Late Middle English, from Old French enroller; variant spelling influenced by older British practice of single-l ending.
to move regularly through or around a place in order to guard it or keep it safe
Police officers patrol the neighborhood every evening.
Soldiers patrolled the streets after the curfew began.
