regulator

plural regulators

1. A device that controls or limits something.
   1. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of voltage regulator.

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

2. A person or group that sets standards of practice, especially regulatory law as sanctioned by statutory law.

   […]in part because a key county reservoir had to been^([sic]) drained to reduce earthquake risks highlighted by federal regulators.

   2021 June 15, Suzanne Rust, “A problem Silicon Valley can’t solve: Drought, quake risk”, in Los Angeles Times, Nant Capital, LLC

3. A very accurate clock, used by clockmakers to measure the timekeeping of each newly made clock.
4. biologyA gene involved in controlling the expression of one or more other genes.
5. rail transportA device that controls the supply of steam to the cylinders of a steam locomotive.

   This uncoupling done, Gimbert opened the regulator as Nightall climbed back onto the footplate, in order to pull the one burning wagon away from the rest of the bomb-laden train.

   2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 42

   2 more examples

   Driver G. A. Rowett, of the North Eastern Region's Neville Hill shed, now joined the locomotive as pilotman, and actually took over the regulator, Fireman Wheddon continuing to fire.

   1958 December 28, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 852

   To start No. S.002 effectively with a heavy train, one opens the main regulator sufficiently to move the train off very slowly. An excess of regulator opening with the by-pass valve open can cause heavy slipping; if the worst happens, the slipping continues a little longer after the regulator is closed than on an English locomotive.

   1961 March, 'Balmore', “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 146

6. historicalSynonym of bulldozer (“member of intimidating group of white US Southerners”).

   Synonyms: bulldozer

7. mathematicsA positive real number determining the density of the units in Dirichlet's unit theorem.
8. abbreviationShort for diving regulator.