What term refers to actual care or control of something?

Possession is the correct term that refers to the actual care or control of something. In legal and common usage, possession implies that an individual has physical control over an item or property, indicating both the ability to access it and the right to use it. This concept goes beyond mere ownership; it emphasizes the tangible control one has over the item at a given moment.

In contrast, while custody refers to the protective care or guardianship of an item, it doesn't necessarily denote direct control by the custodian. Supervision relates more to overseeing something rather than physically holding it, and management implies a level of organization or administration over resources, which may not involve direct control at all. In this context, possession is the term that most accurately captures the idea of being in actual care or control of an object or property.