automatic

¹au·to·mat·ic

adj \ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik\

Definition of AUTOMATIC

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

— au·to·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— au·to·ma·tic·i·ty \-mə-ˈti-sə-tē, -ma-\ noun

Examples of AUTOMATIC

1. Without thinking, he gave an automatic reply.
2. She always has an automatic smile for everyone.

Origin of AUTOMATIC

Greek automatos self-acting, from aut- + -matos (akin to Latin ment-, mens mind) — more at mind

First Known Use: 1748

Related to AUTOMATIC

Synonyms: instinctive, instinctual, involuntary, knee-jerk, mechanic, mechanical, robotic, spontaneous

Antonyms: nonmechanical

Related Words: conditioned, natural, Pavlovian, reactive, reflex, simple, subliminal, unconscious, unforced, visceral; blind, inadvertent, unintended, unintentional, unwilling, unwitting; abrupt, quick, ready, sudden; ad-lib, extemporaneous, extempore, impromptu, improvised, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, snap, spur-of-the-moment, unconsidered, unplanned, unpremeditated, unprepared, unprompted, unreasoned, unrehearsed, unstudied; casual, chance, chancy, haphazard, hasty, hit-or-miss, impetuous, impulsive, mindless, random, rash

Near Antonyms: calculated, conscious, cultivated, deliberate, designed, intended, intentional, predetermined, prepared, projected, refined, rehearsed, volitional, voluntary, willed, willful (or wilful); advised, aforethought, careful, considered, foresighted, forethoughtful, measured, meticulous, reasoned, studied, thoughtful

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See Synonym Discussion at spontaneous

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

Rhymes with AUTOMATIC

achromatic, acrobatic, aerobatic, anabatic, antistatic, aromatic, Asiatic, astigmatic, autocratic, bureaucratic, charismatic, cinematic, democratic, diplomatic, Eleatic, emblematic, enzymatic, Hanseatic, hieratic, Hippocratic, hydrostatic, kerygmatic, kleptocratic, melismatic, mobocratic, monocratic, morganatic, numismatic, operatic, phallocratic, photostatic, plutocratic, pre-Socratic, problematic, programmatic, symptomatic, systematic, technocratic, theocratic, thermostatic, undogmatic, undramatic