Main Entry:

¹au·to·mat·ic

Pronunciation:

\ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik\

Function:

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>3of 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