automaton

C2+ Topic:People & Society

US /ɔˈtɑmətən/ UK /ɔːˈtɒmətən/ See IPA manual

Meanings

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,... robotandroidmachine mechanismgolempuppet

Word family

Derived forms automataautomatous

Related forms automatic automate automation

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').

automaton Ancient Greek autos Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society

External links

# automaton

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɔˈtɑmətən/
**IPA (UK):** /ɔːˈtɒmətən/

## Meanings
1. a self-operating machine, or a person acting mechanically without thought

## Examples
- The clockwork automaton bowed stiffly before striking the hour.

## Synonyms
- robot
- android
- machine
- mechanism
- golem
- puppet

## Derived Forms
- automata
- automatous

## Related Forms
- automatic
- automate
- automation

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: automaton
- Root: autos

## 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').

## AI Etymology
Automaton is a noun meaning "a self-operating machine, or a person acting mechanically without thought". Historically, it is 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'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: automaton is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Ancient Greek automaton with Ancient Greek autos. Close English family members include automata, automatous, automatic, automate, and automation.

## Topics
- People & Society

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