autonomic

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adjective au·to·nom·ic \ ˌȯ-tə-ˈnä-mik \

Definition of autonomic

1 :acting or occurring involuntarily

autonomic reflexes

2 :relating to, affecting, or controlled by the autonomic nervous system or its effects or activity

autonomic drugs

—

autonomically

play \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See autonomic defined for kids

Recent Examples of autonomic from the Web

But disruptions to your autonomic nervous system (which also controls other unconscious behaviors like breathing in addition to your heartbeat), like an acute infection or cancer, can affect HRV.

— jessica migala, SI.com, "What Is Heart Rate Variability–and Do You Need to Know Yours?," 8 Aug. 2017
The autonomic nervous system jump-starts the sympathetic nervous system and accelerates the fight-or-flight response.

— marygrace taylor, SELF, "This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Cry," 18 July 2017
Any illnesses that affect the autonomic nervous system, i.e., the system that regulates your breathing, heart rate, metabolism, and body temperature, could be mistakenly assumed to be anxiety, licensed clinical psychologist Alicia H. Clark, Psy.

— korin miller, SELF, "47 Underlying Illnesses That Can Seem Like Anxiety," 27 June 2017
It's related to the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the balance between its branches - the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

— NOLA.com, "Optimum Performance: How hard is too hard?," 9 June 2017
Sensory nerves and the autonomic nervous system are usually spared so that most with the disease can hear, see, touch, smell and taste.

— jane e. brody, New York Times, "A New Drug for A.L.S., but the Diagnosis Remains Dire," 29 May 2017
Other studies since then have demonstrated that just looking at pictures of natural scenes can change the way a person’s autonomic nervous system responds to stress.

— richard taylor, Smithsonian, "Fractal Patterns in Nature and Art Are Aesthetically Pleasing and Stress-Reducing," 31 Mar. 2017
There was the matter, too, of financial conflicts and nepotism, an autonomic reflex of aspiring authoritarians.

— amy davidson, The New Yorker, "Bitterness and Resentment at Trump’s Inauguration," 30 Jan. 2017
The condition causes complications with joints and skin, such as dysautonomia, a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiration, digestion, and other vital functions.

— lily puckett, Teen Vogue, "Adele Made Dreams Come True for This 12-Year-Old Girl with Autism," 10 Mar. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'autonomic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of autonomic

1888

Medical Dictionary

autonomic

play

adjective au·to·nom·ic \ ˌȯt-ə-ˈnäm-ik \

medical Definition of autonomic

1 a :acting or occurring involuntarily

autonomic reflexes

b :relating to, affecting, or controlled by the autonomic nervous system

autonomic ganglia

autonomic dysfunction

2 :having an effect upon tissue supplied by the autonomic nervous system

autonomic drugs

—

autonomically

play \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Learn More about autonomic

See words that rhyme with autonomic Britannica English: Translation of autonomic for Arabic speakers

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autonomic

Definition of autonomic

autonomically

Recent Examples of autonomic from the Web

First Known Use of autonomic

Medical Dictionary

autonomic

medical Definition of autonomic

autonomically

Learn More about autonomic

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autonomic

Definition of autonomic

autonomically

From the M-W Editors

Recent Examples of autonomic from the Web

First Known Use of autonomic

Medical Dictionary

autonomic

medical Definition of autonomic

autonomically

Learn More about autonomic

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