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“automaton”
automation, automaton
automation (aw" tuh MAY shuhn) (noun)
1. The technique, method, or system of operating or controlling a process with electronic devices, reducing human intervention to a minimum: "The door uses a system of automation so you don't have to push it open."
2. The self-moving transfer of one unit of a complex industrial assembly to a succession of machines, each of which completes another stage in a manufacturing process: "Modern automobile companies are using more automation than were used decades ago."
2. The self-moving transfer of one unit of a complex industrial assembly to a succession of machines, each of which completes another stage in a manufacturing process: "Modern automobile companies are using more automation than were used decades ago."
automaton (aw TOM uh tuhn) (noun)
1. Anything capable of spontaneous movement or action: "Silvia had an incredible automaton, or robot, that was vacuuming the rugs in the living room."
2. A person who acts in a mechanical or machinelike way: "Hans was behaving like an unfeeling automaton."
2. A person who acts in a mechanical or machinelike way: "Hans was behaving like an unfeeling automaton."
Lorena's uncle was so surprised to see what the new automation was able to do, that he was moving like an automaton; that is, moving as if he were in a daze of amazement.
This entry is located in the following units:
auto-, aut-
(page 14)
Confusing Words Clarified: Group A; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
(page 9)
automaton (s), automata (pl)
1. A self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot.
2. A mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power.
3. Someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way; "only an automaton wouldn't have noticed". Also, zombi, zombie.
4. A person or animal that acts in a monotonous, routine manner, without active intelligence.
5. Mechanism that can move automatically or without an external motive force; such as, a robot, golem.
2. A mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power.
3. Someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way; "only an automaton wouldn't have noticed". Also, zombi, zombie.
4. A person or animal that acts in a monotonous, routine manner, without active intelligence.
5. Mechanism that can move automatically or without an external motive force; such as, a robot, golem.
Automata theory, the invention and study of automata, includes the study of the capabilities and limitations of computing processes, the manner in which systems receive input, process it, and produce output, and the relationships between behavioral theories and the operation and use of automated devices.
This entry is located in the following unit:
auto-, aut-
(page 14)
Word Entries containing the term:
“automaton”
stochastic automaton, probabilistic automaton
A device, with a finite number of internal states, that scans words over a finite alphabet, with the next state determined according to probabilistic functions of the current input word.