- automatic
- automatic [ôt΄ə mat′ik]adj.[< Gr automatos, self-moving, self-thinking (< autos, self + component < IE * mntos, thinking < base * men-, to think > MIND, MEMORY) + -IC]1. done without conscious thought or volition, as if mechanically2. involuntary or reflex, as some muscle or gland action3.a) moving, operating, etc. by itself; regulating itself [automatic machinery]b) done with automatic equipment [an automatic landing]4. Firearmsa) using the force of the explosion of a shell to eject the empty cartridge case, place the next cartridge into the breech, and fire it, so that shots continue in rapid succession until the trigger is releasedb) nontechnical name for SEMIAUTOMATIC (sense 2)n.1. an automatic (or, popularly, semiautomatic) firearm2. any automatic machine3. an automotive vehicle having a transmission that changes gears automaticallySYN.- SPONTANEOUSautomaticallyadv.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.