automatic

A2 Topic:People & Society
US /ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪk/ UK /ˌɔː.təˈmæt.ɪk/
adj Freq #6362

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    Working by itself, without a person needing to control it.

    The doors are automatic and open as you approach.

  2. 2
    adj

    Done without thinking, as a natural or habitual reaction.

    Braking when you see danger becomes automatic over time.

  3. 3
    adj

    Certain to happen as a fixed result of a rule or situation.

    Spitting at another player means an automatic red card.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · working by itself, without... self-operating
2 adj · done without thinking, as a... instinctivereflexreflexive
Word family
Forms automatics
Derived forms automagicautomaticalautomaticallyautomaticityautomaticnessautomatistbiautomaticfully-automaticinstamaticlaundromatmanumaticnonautomatic
Related forms automagicalautomatautomationautomatizationautomatizeautomatonautomobileautopilotmanualmanumaticsemi-automatic

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder.? Proto-Indo-European *sóder.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón)? Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *men- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *mn̥tós Proto-Hellenic *mətós Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτος (autómătos) Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτον (autómăton)der. Classical Latin automatum New Latin automaticusbor. English automatic Borrowed from New Latin automaticus, from Classical Latin automatum (“automaton”) + -icus (adjectival suffix), from Ancient Greek αὐτόματον (aut…

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Topics

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