automatic
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.working by itself without needing a person to control it.
adj.capable of operating without external control or manual intervention by means of mechanical or electronic programming.
Simple“The automatic doors opened as soon as I walked toward the shop.”
In context“The factory installed an automatic sorting system that identifies and redirects defective components without halting the main assembly line.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.done quickly and without thinking about it.
adj.performed as a reflex or out of habit, without conscious thought or deliberation.
Simple“His reaction was automatic; he caught the glass before it hit the floor.”
In context“After years of practice, the pianist's finger movements became entirely automatic, allowing her to focus on the emotional expression of the piece.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.happening certainly because of a rule, law, or logical result.
adj.occurring as a necessary or inevitable consequence of a rule, law, or logical premise.
Simple“If you break the rules three times, there is an automatic fine.”
In context“Under the new policy, any employee who completes the advanced certification is entitled to an automatic salary increase at the start of the next quarter.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
adj.describing a gun that keeps firing as long as you hold the trigger.
adj.capable of firing multiple rounds continuously as long as the trigger is depressed.
Simple“The soldiers were trained to use automatic weapons only in emergencies.”
In context“The treaty strictly regulates the export of fully automatic rifles to prevent them from falling into the hands of non-state actors.”
Synonymsrapid fireAntonymssemi automaticmanual - 05 B1 Intermediate
n.a car that changes gears by itself, or the system that does this.
n.a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, or the transmission mechanism itself.
Simple“I prefer driving an automatic when I am stuck in heavy city traffic.”
In context“While purists often prefer a manual gearbox for the control it offers, modern automatics are frequently more fuel-efficient and shift faster than a human can.”
Synonymsautomatic transmissionAntonymsmanualstick shift - 06 C1 Advanced
n.a pistol that loads itself after every shot.
n.a semi-automatic or self-loading firearm, typically a pistol.
Simple“The officer carried a standard issue .45 caliber automatic.”
In context“The forensic report confirmed that the shell casings found at the scene were ejected from a small-caliber automatic.”
“I don’t think I’d use the automatic shifting, but I could see where a less experienced cyclist might feel they benefit from it.”
“It said this would help improve automatic subtitles on Twitch streams as well as Amazon videos.”
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder.? Proto-Indo-European *sóder.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón)? Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *men- Proto-Indo-European *mn̥tós Proto-Hellenic *mətós Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτος (autómătos) Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτον (autómăton)der. Classical Latin automatum New Latin automaticusbor. English automatic Borrowed from New Latin automaticus, from Classical Latin automatum (“automaton”) + -icus (adjectival suffix), from Ancient Greek αὐτόματον (autómaton), neuter of αὐτόματος (autómatos, “self-moving, moving of oneself, self-acting, spontaneous”), from αὐτός (autós, “self, myself”) + μέμαα (mémaa, “to wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire”). The original pronunciation, apparently with stress on the second syllable, was after the ultimate Greek base.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.