au·tom·a·ton (ô-tŏm'ə-tən, -tŏn')
n., pl., -tons, or -ta (-tə).

1. A self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot.
2. One that behaves or responds in a mechanical way.

[Latin, self-operating machine, from Greek, from neuter of automatos, self-acting. See automatic.]

automatous au·tom'a·tous adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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