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Glossary · Nouns · C

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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Contour LinenounMWEa line drawn on a map connecting points of equal heightverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contour MapnounMWEa map having contour lines through points of equal elevationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contour SheetnounMWEa sheet (usually with elastic edges) tailored to fit a particular mattressverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contra DansenounMWEa type of folk dance in which couples are arranged in sets or face one another in a lineverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrabandistnounsomeone who imports or exports without paying dutiesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrabassoonnounthe bassoon that is the largest instrument in the oboe familyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contraceptionnounbirth control by the use of drugs, surgery, or devices such as a diaphragm, intrauterine device, or condomverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contraceptive DevicenounMWEan agent or device intended to prevent conceptionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contraceptive DiaphragmnounMWEa contraceptive device consisting of a flexible dome-shaped cup made of rubber or plasticverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contraceptive MethodnounMWEbirth control by the use of devices (diaphragm or intrauterine device or condom) or drugs or surgeryverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contraceptive PillnounMWEa contraceptive in the form of a pill containing estrogen and progestin to inhibit ovulation and so prevent conceptionverifiedMay 18, 2026
contractnounA document that records the terms and conditions of a legally binding agreement.ArtifactMay 9, 2026
Contract BridgenounMWEa variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bidverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contract KillingnounMWEa murder carried out on agreement with a hired killerverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contract LawnounMWEthat branch of jurisprudence that studies the rights and obligations of parties entering into contractsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contract of AdhesionnounMWEa contract that heavily restricts one party while leaving the other free (as some standard form printed contracts)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Contract of HazardnounMWEa sale of a tract of land as a whole without a warranty as to the acreageverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contract OffernounMWEoffer by an employer to contract to pay an employee at a given rateverifiedMay 18, 2026
contract terminationnounMWECancellation of an entire contract or of its most significant part.ProcessMay 12, 2026
Contract Under SealnounMWEa contract that is signed and has the (wax) seal of the signer attachedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contractile OrgannounMWEa bodily organ that contractsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contractilitynounthe capability or quality of shrinking or contracting, especially by muscle fibers and even some other forms of living matterverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contractingnounbecoming infectedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contractionnoun(physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)verifiedMay 18, 2026
contractornounA person or firm that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor to perform a service or do a job.RoleMay 9, 2026
contractual obligationnounMWEA course of action or conditions that someone is legally bound to because they signed a contract.RequirementRestrictedMay 12, 2026
contractual protectionnounMWEA measure in a contract intended to shield an individual or entity from harm, injury, or liability.ControlMay 12, 2026
contractual requirementnounMWEWritten and signed stipulations (within the said contract) employed in controlling, directing, or managing an activity, organization, or system.RequirementConfidentialMay 12, 2026
Contracturenounan abnormal and usually permanent contraction of a muscleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contradictionnounopposition between two conflicting forces or ideasverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contradiction in TermsnounMWE(logic) a statement that is necessarily falseverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contradictorinessnounthe relation that exists when opposites cannot coexistverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contradistinctionnouna distinction drawn on the basis of contrastverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrafagottonounthe bassoon that is the largest instrument in the oboe familyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrailnounan artificial cloud created by an aircraftverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contraindicationnoun(medicine) a reason that makes it inadvisable to prescribe a particular drug or employ a particular procedure or treatmentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contranymnnounword with a homograph that is also an antonymverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contraptionnouna device or control that is very useful for a particular jobverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrapuntistnouna composer who specializes in counterpointverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrariannounan investor who deliberately decides to go against the prevailing wisdom of other investorsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrarietynounthe relation between contrariesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrarinessnoundeliberate and stubborn unruliness and resistance to guidance or disciplineverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrast MaterialnounMWEa substance that is opaque to x-raysverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrast MediumnounMWEa substance that is opaque to x-raysverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contraventionnouncoming into conflict withverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contretempsnounan awkward clashverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contributionnouna writing for publication especially one of a collection of writings as an article or storyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contributornouna writer whose work is published in a newspaper or magazine or as part of a bookverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contributory NegligencenounMWE(law) behavior by the plaintiff that contributes to the harm resulting from the defendant's negligenceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contritenessnounsorrow for sin arising from fear of damnationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contritionnounsorrow for sin arising from fear of damnationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrivancenounan artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc.verifiedMay 18, 2026
Contrivernouna person who makes plansverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control AccountnounMWEan account that shows totals of amounts entered in a subsidiary ledgerverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control BoardnounMWEelectrical device consisting of a flat insulated surface that contains switches and dials and meters for controlling other electrical devicesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control CenternounMWEthe operational center for a group of related activitiesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control CharacternounMWEASCII characters to indicate carriage return or tab or backspaceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control CircuitnounMWEa feedback circuit that subtracts from the inputverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control ClassnounMWE(control group) the set of observations in an experiment or prospective study that do not receive the experimental treatment(s). These observations serve (a) as a comparison point to evaluate the magnitude and significance of each experimental treatment, (b) as a reality check to compare the current observations with previous observation history, and (c) as a source of data for establishing the natural experimental error.verifiedMay 18, 2026
Control ConditionnounMWEa standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experimentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control ExperimentnounMWEan experiment designed to control for variables affecting the results of another experimentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control FreaknounMWEsomeone with a compulsive desire to exert control over situations and peopleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control FunctionnounMWEan operation that controls the recording or processing or transmission of interpretation of dataverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control GridnounMWEan electrode placed between the cathode and anode of a vacuum tube to control the flow of electrons through the tubeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control InformationnounMWEInformation that is entered into a cryptographic module for the purposes of directing the operation of the module.DataRestrictedCUIMay 12, 2026
Control KeynounMWE(computer science) the key on a computer keyboard that is used (in combination with some other key) to type control charactersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control OperationnounMWEan operation that controls the recording or processing or transmission of interpretation of dataverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control PanelnounMWEelectrical device consisting of a flat insulated surface that contains switches and dials and meters for controlling other electrical devicesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control requirementsnounMWEProcess used to document and/or track internal processes to determine that those established procedures and/or physical security policies are being followed.RequirementRegulatedMay 9, 2026
Control RodnounMWEa steel or aluminum rod that can be moved up or down to control the rate of the nuclear reactionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control RoomnounMWEa room housing control equipment (as in a recording studio)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Control self-assessmentnounMWEA technique used to internally assess the effectiveness of risk management and control processes.ProcessMay 9, 2026
Control SticknounMWEa lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and elevators of an airplaneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control StocknounMWEshares owned by shareholders who have a controlling interestverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control SurfacenounMWEa device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding airverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control SystemnounMWEa system for controlling the operation of another systemverifiedMay 18, 2026
Control TowernounMWEa tower with an elevated workspace enclosed in glass for the visual observation of aircraft around an airportverifiedMay 18, 2026
Controllabilitynounproperty of a system that allows a human or another external agent to intervene in the system’s functioning; such a system is heteronomous.CapabilityMay 18, 2026
Controlled Access AreanounMWEPhysical area (e.g., building, room, etc.) to which only authorized personnel are granted unrestricted access. All other personnel are either escorted by authorized personnel or are under continuous surveillance.PhysicalRegulatedMay 9, 2026
Controlled Access ProtectionnounMWEMinimum set of security functionality that enforces access control on individual users and makes them accountable for their actions through login procedures, auditing of security-relevant events, and resource isolation.ControlMay 9, 2026
Controlled AreanounMWEAny area or space for which the organization has confidence that the physical and procedural protections provided are sufficient to meet the requirements established for protecting the information and/or information system.PhysicalRestrictedMay 9, 2026
Controlled Cryptographic ItemnounMWESecure telecommunications or information system, or associated cryptographic component, that is unclassified and handled through the COMSEC Material Control System (CMCS), an equivalent material control system, or a combination of the two that provides accountability and visibility. Such items are marked “Controlled Cryptographic Item,” or, where space is limited, “CCI”.PhysicalRegulatedCUIMay 9, 2026
Controlled Cryptographic Item AssemblynounMWEDevice embodying a cryptographic logic or other COMSEC design that NSA has approved as a Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI). It performs the entire COMSEC function, but depends upon the host equipment to operate.PhysicalRegulatedCUIMay 9, 2026
Controlled Cryptographic Item ComponentnounMWEPart of a Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI) that does not perform the entire COMSEC function but depends upon the host equipment, or assembly, to complete and operate the COMSEC function.PhysicalRegulatedCUIMay 9, 2026
Controlled Cryptographic Item EquipmentnounMWETelecommunications or information handling equipment that embodies a Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI) component or CCI assembly and performs the entire COMSEC function without dependence on host equipment to operate.PhysicalRegulatedCUIMay 9, 2026
Controlled InterfacenounMWEA boundary with a set of mechanisms that enforces the security policies and controls the flow of information between interconnected information systems.ControlMay 9, 2026
Controlled SpacenounMWEThree-dimensional space surrounding information system equipment, within which unauthorized individuals are denied unrestricted access and are either escorted by authorized individuals or are under continuous physical or electronic surveillance.PhysicalRegulatedMay 12, 2026
Controlled SubstancenounMWEa drug or chemical substance whose possession and use are controlled by lawverifiedMay 18, 2026
Controlled Unclassified InformationnounMWEA categorical designation that refers to unclassified information that does not meet the standards for National Security Classification under Executive Order 12958, as amended, but is (i) pertinent to the national interests of the United States or to the important interests of entities outside the federal government, and (ii) under law or policy requires protection from unauthorized disclosure, special handling safeguards, or prescribed limits on exchange or dissemination. Henceforth, the designation CUI replaces "Sensitive But Unclassified" (SBU).RequirementRegulatedCUIMay 9, 2026
Controllernoun‘Controller’ means the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data; where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its nomination may be provided for by Union or Member State law;RoleMay 18, 2026
ControllershipnounNatural or legal person which determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal dataverifiedMay 18, 2026
Controlling AuthoritynounMWEOfficial responsible for directing the operation of a cryptonet and for managing the operational use and control of keying material assigned to the cryptonet.RoleRegulatedCUIMay 9, 2026
Controlling InterestnounMWEownership of more than 50% of a corporation's voting sharesverifiedMay 18, 2026
ControlsnounThis record category contains standards used as a comparison for checking and verifying results of a survey or experiment or contains policies, procedures, practices, and organizational structures designed to provide reasonable assurance that the business objectives will be achieved and undesired events will be prevented or detected.ControlMay 12, 2026
Controversialistnouna person who disputesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Controversynouna contentious speech actverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contumacynounwillful refusal to appear before a court or comply with a court orderverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contumelynouna rude expression intended to offend or hurtverifiedMay 18, 2026
Contusionnounan injury that doesn't break the skin but results in some discolorationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Conundrumnouna difficult problemverifiedMay 18, 2026