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>
3 of 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