Main Entry: au·tom·a·ton

Pronunciation: \ȯ-ˈtä-mə-tən, -mə-ˌtän\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural au·tom·atons or au·tom·a·ta \-mə-tə, -mə-ˌtä\

Etymology: Latin, from Greek, neuter of automatos

Date: 1645

1 : a mechanism that is relatively self-operating; especially : robot
2 : a machine or control mechanism designed to follow automatically a predetermined sequence of operations or respond to encoded instructions
3 : an individual who acts in a mechanical fashion