automaton

Pronunciation: /ɔːˈtɒmətən/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way
  2. noun a mechanism that can move automatically

Etymology

From Ancient Greek αὐτόματον (autómaton), neuter of αὐτόματος (autómatos, “self moving, self willed”). Doublet of automat.

In classic literature

Synonyms

zombi, zombie

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
anomaly

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