AUTOMATIC


Meaning of AUTOMATIC in English

I. ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik adjective

Etymology: Greek automatos self-acting, from aut- + -matos (akin to Latin ment-, mens mind) — more at mind

Date: 1748

1.

a. : largely or wholly involuntary ; especially : reflex 5

automatic blinking of the eyelids

b. : acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously

c. : done or produced as if by machine : mechanical

the answers were automatic

2. : having a self-acting or self-regulating mechanism

an automatic transmission

3. of a firearm : firing repeatedly until the trigger is released

Synonyms: see spontaneous

• au·to·mat·i·cal·ly -ti-k(ə-)lē adverb

• au·to·ma·tic·i·ty -mə-ˈti-sə-tē, -ma- noun

II. noun

Date: 1897

1. : a machine or apparatus that operates automatically: as

a. : an automatic firearm

b. : an automatic transmission

2. : a semiautomatic firearm

3. : audible

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.