a standard, model, or pattern. 2. general level or average: Two cars per family is the norm in most suburban communities. 3. Education. a designated standard of average performance of people of a given age, background, etc. a standard based on the past average performance of a given individual.
For example, pressure regulators are used in gas grills to regulate propane, in home heating furnaces to regulate natural gases, in medical and dental equipment to regulate oxygen and anesthesia gases, in pneumatic automation systems to regulate compressed air, in engines to regulate fuel and in fuel cells to regulate hydrogen.
The on-off spigot regulates the flow of water into your bathtub. When a government regulates an industry, they set standards the industry must follow. To regulate means to impose control. Regulate shares a root with the word, regular. When the transit authority regulates a train schedule, it makes sure trains arrive on a more regular schedule. The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated ââ before a drug can be marketed, it must be tested.