semiautomatic

adjective semi·au·to·mat·ic \-ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik\

of a gun : able to fire bullets one after the other quickly but not automatically

Full Definition of SEMIAUTOMATIC

: not fully automatic: as

a : operated partly automatically and partly by hand

b of a firearm : able to fire repeatedly but requiring release and another pressure of the trigger for each successive shot

— semiautomatic noun

— semi·au·to·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See semiautomatic defined for English-language learners

1853

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