1. A self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot: The Smiths bought an automaton, a special device which would mow the lawn in their garden all by itself.
2. A mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power: Tommy got an automaton for his birthday, which looked like a little soldier and could be operated by winding it up so it would walk around in his living room.
3. Someone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic way: Only an automaton wouldn't have noticed the threat of the thunderstorm.
4. A person or animal that acts in a monotonous, routine manner, without active intelligence: The whole football team sat around after the game, like automatons, lifeless and depressed after losing the last game of the season.
5. A mechanism that can move automatically or without an external motive force; such as, an android: The cell phone that Janet has can be considered to be an automaton in that it responds to  encoded instructions. © ALL rights are reserved.

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