Automatic

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
• US IPA: /ˌɔtəˈmætɪk/
• Rhymes: -ætɪk

Alternative forms

• automatick

Origin

From French automatique, from Ancient Greek αὐτόματον, neuter of αὐτόματος (automatos, "self-moving, moving of oneself, self-acting, spontaneous"), from αὐτός (autos, "self, myself") + μέμαα (memaa, "to wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire").

Full definition of automatic

Adjective

1. Capable of operating without external control or intervention.The automatic clothes washer was a great labor-saving device
2. Done out of habit or without conscious thought.The reaction was automatic: flight!
3. (of a firearm such as a machine gun) Firing continuously as long as the trigger is pressed until ammunition is exhausted.
4. (computing, of a local variable) Automatically added to and removed from the stack during the course of function calls.

Synonyms

• (without conscious thought) perfunctory, thoughtless, instinctive

Antonyms

• (capable of operating without external control) manual
• (without conscious thought) voluntary

Derived terms

• automatically
• automaticity
• automatic transmission
• automatical

Related terms

• automagical
• automat
• automaton
• automation
• automatization
• automatize
• automobile
• autopilot

Noun

1. A car with automatic transmission.I never learned to drive a stick. I can only drive an automatic.
2. A semi-automatic firearm.

Antonyms

• (car with automatic transmission) stick, stickshift; manual transmission; standard transmission