First Known Use: 1748
Dictionary
1automatic
adjective au·to·mat·ic \ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik\
of a machine or device : having controls that allow something to work or happen without being directly controlled by a person
of a gun : shooting many bullets very quickly when the trigger is pulled
: happening or done without deliberate thought or effort
Full Definition of AUTOMATIC
1
a : largely or wholly involuntary; especially : reflex 5 <automatic blinking of the eyelids> b : acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously c : done or produced as if by machine : mechanical <the answers were automatic>
2
: having a self-acting or self-regulating mechanism <an automatic transmission>
3
of a firearm : firing repeatedly until the trigger is released
— au·to·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
— au·to·ma·tic·i·ty \-mə-ˈti-sə-tē, -ma-\ noun
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Origin of AUTOMATIC
Greek automatos self-acting, from aut- + -matos (akin to Latin ment-, mens mind) — more at mind
Related to AUTOMATIC
- Synonyms
- instinctive, instinctual, involuntary, knee-jerk, mechanic, mechanical, robotic, spontaneous
- Antonyms
- nonmechanical
Synonym Discussion of AUTOMATIC
spontaneous, impulsive, instinctive, automatic, mechanical mean acting or activated without deliberation. spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness <a spontaneous burst of applause>. impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment <impulsive acts of violence>. instinctive stresses action involving neither judgment nor will <blinking is an instinctive reaction>. automatic implies action engaging neither the mind nor the emotions and connotes a predictable response <his denial was automatic>. mechanical stresses the lifeless, often perfunctory character of the response <a mechanical teaching method>.
Rhymes with AUTOMATIC
achromatic, acrobatic, aerobatic, anabatic, antistatic, aromatic, Asiatic, astigmatic, autocratic, bureaucratic, charismatic, cinematic, democratic, diplomatic, Eleatic, emblematic, enzymatic, Hanseatic, hieratic, Hippocratic, hydrostatic, kerygmatic, kleptocratic, melismatic, mobocratic, monocratic, morganatic, numismatic, operatic, phallocratic, photostatic, plutocratic, pre-Socratic, problematic, programmatic, symptomatic, systematic, technocratic, theocratic, thermostatic, undogmatic, undramatic
2automatic
noun
: a gun that shoots many bullets very quickly : an automatic weapon
: a vehicle that changes gears by itself at different speeds : a car with automatic transmission
Full Definition of AUTOMATIC
1
: a machine or apparatus that operates automatically: as a : an automatic firearm b : an automatic transmission
2
: a semiautomatic firearm
3
: audible
See automatic defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of AUTOMATIC
1897
Rhymes with AUTOMATIC
AUTOMATIC Defined for Kids
automatic
adjective au·to·mat·ic \ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik\
Definition of AUTOMATIC for Kids
1
: involuntary <automatic blinking of eyelids>
2
: being a machine or device that allows something to work without being directly controlled by a person <an automatic washer>
— au·to·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-kə-lē\ adverb
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