English
Etymology

From Ancient Greek α���μα�ον (automaton), neutral of α���μα�ο� (automatos) "selfmoving, moving of oneself, self-acting, spontaneous", from α���� (autos) "self, myself" + μέμαα (memaa) "to wish eagerly, strive, yearn, desire".

Pronunciation
ô-t�m'�-t�n, /���t�m�t�n/, /O:"tQm@t@n/
ô-t�m'�-t�n", /���t�m��t�n/, /O:"tQm@%tQn/

Noun
wikipedia
en-noun|pl2=automata

1. A machine, robot, or formal system designed to follow a precise sequence of instructions.

#:Due to her strict adherence to her daily schedule, Jessica was becoming more and more convinced that she was an automaton.
#:A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for a second, that second for a third, and so on 'til the bulk of the society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering. - Thomas Jefferson

1. A toy in the form of a mechanical figure

Derived terms
cellular automaton

Translations
trans-top|machine, robot, or formal system
Albanian: t+|sq|automat|m|xs=Albanian
Croatian: t-|hr|automat|m
Czech: t-|cs|automat|m
trans-mid
Japanese: t|ja|scJpan|������|tr�tomaton
Romanian: t-|ro|automat|n
Portuguese: t|pt|autômato|m
trans-bottom

Category:Greek derivations
Category:English nouns with irregular plurals

fr:automaton
io:automaton
pt:automaton
te:automaton
vi:automaton

• 2007-11-25 18:47 - Eveningmist - /* Translations */ adding ja

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