"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.
雙語例句
1. They shot him at point blank range with an automatic rifle.
他們用自動步槍近距離開槍射殺了他。
來自柯林斯例句
2. An automatic weather station feeds information on wind direction to the computer.
自動化氣象站將風(fēng)向信息輸入計(jì)算機(jī)。
來自柯林斯例句
3. An automatic voltage regulator ensured a constant output from the generator.
一個自動電壓調(diào)節(jié)器保證了發(fā)電機(jī)電流輸出的穩(wěn)定。
來自柯林斯例句
4. The bill provides for the automatic review of all death sentences.
該法案規(guī)定所有死刑判決都要自動接受審核。
來自柯林斯例句
5. Fran began her automatic patter about how Jon had been unavoidably detained.