Main Entry: ro·bot

Pronunciation: \ˈrō-ˌbät, -bət\

Function: noun

Etymology: Czech, from robota compulsory labor; akin to Old High German arabeit trouble, Latin orbus orphaned — more at orphan

Date: 1923

1 a : a machine that looks like a human being and performs various complex acts (as walking or talking) of a human being; also : a similar but fictional machine whose lack of capacity for human emotions is often emphasized b : an efficient insensitive person who functions automatically
2 : a device that automatically performs complicated often repetitive tasks
3 : a mechanism guided by automatic controls

— ro·bot·ism \ˈrō-ˌbä-ˌti-zəm, -bə-\ noun