automatic

/ˌȯ-tə-ˈma-tik/

borrowed from New Latin automaticus, from Latin automatum "contrivance with a hidden mechanism that appears to operate on its own" (borrowed from Greek autómaton) + -icus

adjective

  1. largely or wholly involuntary; especially : reflex

  2. acting or done spontaneously or unconsciously

  3. done or produced as if by machine : mechanical

the automatic applause of the audience

spontaneous impulsive instinctive automatic mechanical mean acting or activated without deliberation. spontaneous implies lack of prompting and connotes naturalness. impulsive implies acting under stress of emotion or spirit of the moment.

noun

  1. a machine or apparatus that operates automatically; especially : an automatic firearm

  2. an automatic transmission

  3. an automobile with an automatic transmission

noun

  1. autopilot

  2. a state or condition in which activity or behavior is regulated automatically in a predetermined or instinctive manner