An automatic machine or device is one which has controls that enable it to perform a task without needing to be constantly operated by a person. Automatic methods and processes involve the use of such machines.
Modern trains have automatic doors.
Synonyms: mechanical, robot, automated, mechanized More Synonyms of automatic
2. countable noun
An automatic is a gun that keeps firing shots until you stop pulling the trigger.
He drew his automatic and began running in the direction of the sounds.
The gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons.
3. countable noun
An automatic is a car in which the gears change automatically as the car's speed increases or decreases.
4. adjective
An automatic action is one that you do without thinking about it.
All of the automatic body functions, even breathing, are affected.
Synonyms: involuntary, natural, unconscious, mechanical More Synonyms of automatic
automatically (ɔːtəmætɪkli)adverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
Strangely enough, you will automatically wake up after this length of time.
Automatically Tommy's hand went to his forehead.
5. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If something such as an action or a punishment is automatic, it happens without people needing to think about it because it is the result of a fixed rule or method.
Those drivers should face an automatic charge of manslaughter.
Synonyms: inevitable, certain, necessary, assured More Synonyms of automatic
automaticallyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADV n/adj]
As an account customer, you are automatically entitled to a variety of benefits.
Anyone giving in excess of £100 automatically becomes a member of the Trust.
automatic in British English
(ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk)
adjective
1.
performed from force of habit or without conscious thought; lacking spontaneity; mechanical
an automatic smile
2.
a.
(of a device, mechanism, etc) able to activate, move, or regulate itself
b.
(of an act or process) performed by such automatic equipment
3.
(of the action of a muscle, gland, etc) involuntary or reflex
4.
occurring as a necessary consequence
promotion is automatic after a year
5. (of a firearm)
a.
utilizing some of the force of or gas from each explosion to eject the empty shell case, replace it with a new one, and fire continuously until release of the trigger
Compare semiautomatic (sense 2)
b. short for semiautomatic (sense 2), See also machine (sense 5)
noun
6.
an automatic firearm
7.
a motor vehicle having automatic transmission
8.
a machine that operates automatically
Derived forms
automatically (ˌautoˈmatically)
adverb
automaticity (ˌɔːtəʊməˈtɪsɪtɪ)
noun
Word origin
C18: from Greek automatos acting independently
automatic in American English
(ˌɔtəˈmætɪk)
adjective
1.
done without conscious thought or volition, as if mechanically
2.
involuntary or reflex, as some muscle or gland action
3.
a.
moving, operating, etc. by itself; regulating itself
automatic machinery
b.
done with automatic equipment
an automatic landing
4. Firearms
a.
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 released
b. Nontechnical
semiautomatic (sense 2)
noun
5.
an automatic (or, popularly, semiautomatic) firearm
6.
any automatic machine
7.
an automotive vehicle having a transmission that changes gears automatically
SIMILAR WORDS: sponˈtaneous
Derived forms
automatically (ˌautoˈmatically)
adverb
Word origin
< Gr automatos, self-moving, self-thinking (< autos, self + component < IE *mntos, thinking < base *men-, to think > mind, memory) + -ic
automatic in Automotive Engineering
(ɔtəmætɪk)
Word forms: (regular plural) automatics
noun
(Automotive engineering: Vehicle types)
An automatic is a vehicle with automatic transmission.
If you passed your test in an automatic, you must return to do it all over again in a manual car.
Since his accident, he drives an automatic, which he steers with one arm.
Most battery-powered cars operate like automatics, so you do not have to operate clutch or gears.
More idioms containing
automatic
on automatic pilot
Examples of 'automatic' in a sentence
automatic
It means he will be hit with an automatic three-match ban.
The Sun (2016)
New drivers who are caught using a mobile phone at the wheel will face automatic disqualification as part of a new crackdown on dangerous driving.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
New drivers who are caught using a mobile phone at the wheel will face automatic disqualification,as part of action against dangerous driving.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Those caught driving above the new threshold will also face automatic penalties.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Two bursts of automatic fire were subsequently heard coming from the garden.
Jonathan Gregson BLOOD AGAINST THE SNOWS: The Tragic Story of Nepal's Royal Dynasty (2002)
Will they insist all cars are automatic?
The Sun (2007)
In the shorter format he is an automatic choice who has set the highest standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
So he resolved to reclaim his independence and train his body to drive an automatic car.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We had no central heating and no automatic washing machine.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
An appointment from within the current cabinet would trigger an automatic reshuffle of his government.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Ideally he should go further and stop early release being an automatic right for all prisoners.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She faces automatic removal if she is sentenced to a custodial term of longer than a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He was an automatic choice before suffering the knock two months ago.
The Sun (2013)
Twelve normally brings an automatic ban.
The Sun (2009)
Wouldn't a manager rather go up in one of the automatic places?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The six-speed automatic gearbox can be driven as a regular automatic.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Rovers are now fourth, still just a point off the three automatic spots.
The Sun (2016)
The automatic two-year ban is insufficient as a deterrent.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I can still drive the automatic chauffeur cars with just one arm.
The Sun (2015)
He attached the cage to an automatic mechanism that delivered food at random intervals, then sat back and watched.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Another way to look at it is that one is fairly automatic, and the other requires some manual work.
Christianity Today (2000)
When the engine begins to stall, there are automatic mechanisms that are produced from within to attempt to repair it.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
automatic
British English: automatic /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/ ADJECTIVE
An automatic machine or device is one which has controls that enable it to perform a task without needing to be constantly operated by a person.
Modern trains have automatic doors.
American English: automatic
Arabic: آلِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: automático
Chinese: 自动的
Croatian: automatski
Czech: automatický
Danish: automatisk
Dutch: automatisch
European Spanish: automático
Finnish: automaattinen
French: automatique
German: automatisch
Greek: αυτόματος
Italian: automatico
Japanese: 自動的な
Korean: 자동의
Norwegian: automatisk
Polish: automatyczny
European Portuguese: automático
Romanian: automat
Russian: автоматический
Latin American Spanish: automático
Swedish: automatisk
Thai: อัตโนมัติ
Turkish: otomatik
Ukrainian: автоматичний
Vietnamese: tự động
All related terms of 'automatic'
automatic door
a self-opening door
automatic focus
a system in a camera which automatically adjusts the lens so that the object being photographed is in focus , often one using infrared light to estimate the distance of the object from the camera
automatic pilot
An automatic pilot or an autopilot is a device in an aircraft that automatically keeps it on a particular course.
automatic camera
a camera in which the lens aperture or the shutter speed or both are automatically adjusted to the prevailing conditions
automatic exposure
the automatic adjustment of the lens aperture and shutter speed of a camera by a control mechanism
automatic repeat
a key on the keyboard of a typewriter , computer, etc, which, when depressed continuously, produces the character repeatedly until the key is released
automatic vending
selling goods by vending machines
automatic writing
writing performed without apparent intent or conscious control, esp. to achieve spontaneity or uncensored expression
automatic transmission
A car that is fitted with automatic transmission has a gear system in which the gears change automatically.
on automatic pilot
If you are on automatic pilot or on autopilot , you are acting without thinking about what you are doing, usually because you have done it many times before.
automatic gain control
control of a radio receiver in which the gain varies inversely with the magnitude of the input , thus maintaining the output at an approximately constant level
Browning automatic rifle
a portable gas-operated air-cooled automatic rifle using .30 calibre ammunition and capable of firing between 200 and 350 rounds per minute
automatic direction finder
a type of radio compass that indicates automatically the direction of the station to which it is tuned , used esp. on aircraft
automatic frequency control
a system in a radio or television receiver by which the tuning of an incoming signal is accurately maintained
automatic vending machine
a machine that automatically dispenses goods, such as cigarettes , when money is inserted
Lewis gun
a light air-cooled drum-fed gas-operated machine gun used chiefly in World War I
autoexposure
the automatic adjustment of the lens aperture and shutter speed of a camera by a control mechanism
AGC
automatic gain control
automated teller machine
a computerized cash dispenser
browning
a substance used to darken soups , gravies , etc
Browning machine gun
a portable gas-operated air-cooled automatic rifle using .30 calibre ammunition and capable of firing between 200 and 350 rounds per minute
Chinese translation of 'automatic'
automatic
(ɔːtəˈmætɪk)
adj
[process, machine]自动(動)的 (zìdòng de)
[reaction]无(無)意识(識)的 (wú yìshi de)
[action, punishment]必然发(發)生的 (bìrán fāshēng de)
n(c)
(= rifle, pistol) 自动(動)枪(槍) (zìdòngqiāng) (把, bǎ)
(= car) 自动(動)挡(擋) (zìdòngdǎng) (辆(輛), liàng)
1 (adjective)
Definition
(of a process) performed by automatic equipment
Modern trains have automatic doors.
Synonyms
mechanical
a small mechanical device that taps out the numbers
robot
automated
highly automated production lines
mechanized
push-button
self-regulating
self-propelling
self-activating
self-moving
self-acting
hands-off
Opposites
human
,
physical
,
manual
,
done by hand
,
hand-operated
2 (adjective)
Definition
done without conscious thought
the automatic body functions, such as breathing
Synonyms
involuntary
A surge of pain caused me to give an involuntary shudder.
natural
unconscious
‘You're well out of it,’ he said with unconscious brutality.
mechanical
His retort was mechanical.
spontaneous
a spontaneous reaction
reflex
I turned to look inside the house in a reflex action.
instinctive
It's an instinctive reaction. If a child falls you pick it up.
instinctual
unwilled
Opposites
conscious
,
voluntary
, deliberate,
intentional
3 (adjective)
Definition
occurring as a necessary consequence
People who litter should face automatic fines.
Synonyms
inevitable
The defeat had inevitable consequences for policy.
certain
They intervened to save him from certain death.
necessary
Wastage was no doubt a necessary consequence of spending so much money.
assured
He was much more assured than in recent appearances.
routine
unavoidable
Managers said the job losses were unavoidable.
inescapable
A sense of imminent doom was inescapable.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assured
Definition
confident or self-assured
He was much more assured than in recent appearances.