Main Entry: au·ton·o·mous

Pronunciation: \ȯ-ˈtän-ə-məs\

Function: adjective

1 : of, relating to, or marked by autonomy
2 a : not forming a part (as does an embryo or seed) in the developmental sequence of an organism b : responding, reacting, or developing independently of the whole <a tumor is an autonomous growth>
3 : under control of the autonomic nervous system

—au·ton·o·mous·ly adverb