Definition of robot
1a : a machine that looks like a human being and performs various complex acts (such as walking or talking) of a human being; also : a similar but fictional machine whose lack of capacity for human emotions is often emphasizedb : an efficient insensitive person who functions automatically
2 : a device that automatically performs complicated often repetitive tasks
3 : a mechanism guided by automatic controls
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Examples of robot in a Sentence
The cars are assembled by robots.
Recent Examples of robot from the Web
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Keller won with a design that features a pattern of hexagons along with tools including a 3-D printer, a drawing tablet and a robot arm.
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A cable connects the robot to an operator, commonly stationed in a truck a safe distance from the pipeline, who monitors the sensor data.
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Among these, the three Asian countries bought abound half of global industrial robots since 2013, led by China, Moody’s says.
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Say a genius inventor creates a robot that mows your lawn perfectly.
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A wrongful death lawsuit against a Chambers County auto parts manufacturer remains unresolved nearly a year after a 20-year-old machine operator was killed by a robot at work.
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But most of us are in a hurry, a reflexive, habitual, cultural hurry, which is why the laundry-folding robots will find a market.
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This scenario, in which robots gradually produce collective ruin, does come with a silver lining.
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According to new research, our roads might only need to be as little as 5 percent robot.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'robot'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of robot
Czech, from robota compulsory labor; akin to Old High German arabeit trouble, Latin orbus orphaned — more at orphan
Other Mechanical Engineering Terms
ROBOT Defined for English Language Learners
robot
playDefinition of robot for English Language Learners
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: a real or imaginary machine that is controlled by a computer and is often made to look like a human or animal
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: a machine that can do the work of a person and that works automatically or is controlled by a computer
ROBOT Defined for Kids
robot
playDefinition of robot for Students
1 : a machine that looks and acts like a human being
2 : a machine that can do the work of a person automatically or under the control of a computer
History for robot
In 1923 the play R.U.R., by Karel Čapek, opened in London and New York. In the play “R.U.R.” stands for “Rossum's Universal Robots,” a company formed by an English scientist named Rossum to manufacture humanlike machines called “robots” to do hard, boring jobs. In Czech—the language of what is today the Czech Republic and the original language of the play—the word robota means “forced labor,” and Čapek based his new coinage “robot” on this word. Čapek's play was popular, and soon the word became a general term for machines that can perform the tasks of a person.
Learn More about robot
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Spanish Central: Translation of robot Nglish: Translation of robot for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about robot
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