The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word DOMINATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
D
O
M
I
N
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result DOMINATE
- Give about one million, returning to get control
- Two notes put away following Norway leader’s command
- Party maiden at home – troublesome female, bully
- Tower over there’s vacated after work on burst main
- Overlook banning sex from organised meditation
- Rule present covering this compiler’s back
- Find lord over in moated building
- The same couple hugging in corner
- Cheat friend holding in to keep under control
- Dwarf skull in a tin, strangely? Turn it round
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "to keep under control" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case to keep under control = dominate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DOMINATE mean?
DOMINATE adjective- Ruling; governing; prevailing
- Predominant, common, prevalent, of greatest importance.
- Designating the follicle which will survive atresia and permit ovulation.
- The late period of the Roman Empire, following the principate, during which the emperor's rule became more explicitly autocratic and remaining vestiges of the Roman Republic were removed from the formal workings of government; the reign of any particular emperor during this period.
- To govern, rule or control by superior authority or power
- To exert an overwhelming guiding influence over something or someone
- To enjoy a commanding position in some field
- To overlook from a height.