What does it mean to "regulate" something?

To "regulate" something means to control or direct it by some method. This term is often used in contexts such as governance, economics, and various industries where rules or guidelines are enforced to ensure order, safety, or adherence to standards. For example, a government may regulate environmental practices to protect natural resources, or a body may regulate the quality of food to ensure public health. The core idea of regulation involves oversight, guidance, and systematic management, which ensures that operations or behaviors conform to established norms or objectives.

The other options describe actions that do not align with the concept of regulation—ignoring or overlooking implies a lack of control, randomly assigning suggests a chaotic approach devoid of methodical oversight, and enhancing or improving without control indicates an absence of regulation altogether. Each of these contrasts sharply with the structured and intentional nature of regulating activities or processes.