automaton

English

/ɔːˈtɒmətən/, /əˈtɑməˌtɑn/

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

Etymology

Derived from Ancient Greek αὐτόματον root from Proto-Indo-European *men- (think, stand out, stay, tower, mountain, stand still, mind, have in mind, project, remember, change, remain, rmemeber, small).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*men-

Gloss

think, stand out, stay, tower, mountain, stand still, mind, have in mind, project, remember, change, remain, rmemeber, small

Concept
Semantic Field

Cognition

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

楼, 塔

Emoji
💭 🤔

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms