"self-acting, moving or acting on its own," 1812, from Greek automatos, used of the gates of Olympus and the tripods of Hephaestus (also "without apparent cause, by accident"), from autos "self" (see auto-) + matos "thinking, animated" (see automaton). Of involuntary animal or human actions, from 1748, first used in this sense by English physician and philosopher David Hartley (1705-1757). In reference to a type of firearm, from 1877; specifically of machinery that imitates human-directed action from 1940.
automatic (n.)
"automatic weapon," 1902, from automatic (adj.). Meaning "motorized vehicle with automatic transmission" is from 1949.
实用例句
1. They shot him at point blank range with an automatic rifle.
他们用自动步枪近距离开枪射杀了他。来自柯林斯例句
2. An automatic weather station feeds information on wind direction to the computer.
自动化气象站将风向信息输入计算机。来自柯林斯例句
3. An automatic voltage regulator ensured a constant output from the generator.
一个自动电压调节器保证了发电机电流输出的稳定。来自柯林斯例句
4. The bill provides for the automatic review of all death sentences.
该法案规定所有死刑判决都要自动接受审核。来自柯林斯例句
5. Fran began her automatic patter about how Jon had been unavoidably detained.
