n.
Pronunciation: o ̇ - ' tä-m ə -t ə n, -m ə - ˌ tän
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -atons or -a · ta \ -m ə -t ə , -m ə - ˌ tä \
Etymology: Latin, from Greek, neuter of automatos
Date: 1645
1 : a mechanism that is relatively self-operating especially : ROBOT
2 : a machine or control mechanism designed to follow automatically a predetermined sequence of operations or respond to encoded instructions
3 : an individual who acts in a mechanical fashion