automaton

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

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Automaton

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The Digesting Duck of Jacques de Vaucanson, hailed in 1739 as the first automaton capable of digestion.

A diagram of a formal automaton.

[edit] Etymology

From Ancient Greek αὐτόματον (automaton), neuter of αὐτόματος (automatos), “‘self moving, self willed’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• ô-tŏm'ə-tən, /ɔːˈtɒmətən/, /O:"tQm@t@n/
• ô-tŏm'ə-tŏn", /ɔːˈtɒməˌtɒn/, /O:"tQm@%tQn/

[edit] Noun

automaton (plural automatons or automata)

1. A machine or robot designed to follow a precise sequence of instructions.

   Due to her strict adherence to her daily schedule, Jessica was becoming more and more convinced that she was an automaton.

   A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for a second, that second for a third, and so on 'til the bulk of the society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering. - Thomas Jefferson

2. A formal system, such as finite automaton.
3. A toy in the form of a mechanical figure

[edit] Derived terms

• cellular automaton

[edit] Related terms

• automat
• automatic
• automatization
• automatize
• automation

[edit] Translations