automaton

C2+ Topic:People & Society
US /ɔˈtɑmətən/ UK /ɔːˈtɒmətən/
noun

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a self-operating machine, or a person acting mechanically without thought

    The clockwork automaton bowed stiffly before striking the hour.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a self-operating machine,... robotandroidmachinemechanismgolempuppet
Word family
Derived forms automataautomatous

Etymology

From Latin automaton, from Ancient Greek automaton ('self-moving thing'), neuter of automatos ('self-acting'), from autos ('self') + a derivative of the root men- ('to think, be moved').

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Topics

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