English Explanatory Dictionary

automaton

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A machine or robot designed to follow a precise sequence of instructions.
  2. A person who acts like a machine or robot, often defined as having a monotonous lifestyle and lacking in emotion.
  3. A formal system, such as a finite-state machine or cellular automaton.
  4. A toy in the form of a mechanical figure.
  5. The self-acting power of the muscular and nervous systems, by which movement is effected without intelligent determination.

Pronunciation

ô-tŏm'ə-tən ô-tŏm'ə-tŏn ə-tŏm'ə-tŏn /ɔːˈtɒmətən/ /-ˌtɒn/ /ə-/ en-us-automaton.ogg

Word forms

automaton automatons automata

Etymology

From Ancient Greek αὐτόματον (autómaton), neuter of αὐτόματος (autómatos, “self moving, self willed”). Doublet of automat.

Related words

automat automatic automation automatization automatize

Derived words

automatonlike automatonophobia auton biautomaton Büchi automaton cellular automaton finite automaton finite-state automaton Obamaton pushdown automaton semiautomaton teleautomaton
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