The Collaborative International Dictionary
Automatic \Au`to*mat"ic\, Automatical \Au`to*mat"ic*al\, a. [Cf. F. automatique. See Automaton.]
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Having an inherent power of action or motion.
Nothing can be said to be automatic.
--Sir H. Davy. -
Pertaining to, or produced by, an automaton; of the nature of an automaton; self-acting or self-regulating under fixed conditions; operating with minimal human intervention; -- esp. applied to machinery or devices in which certain things formerly or usually done by hand are done by the machine or device itself; as, the automatic feed of a lathe; automatic gas lighting; an automatic engine or switch; an automatic mouse; an automatic transmission. The opposite of manual.
Note: Narrower terms are: autoloading(prenominal), semiautomatic ; {automated, machine-controlled, machine-driven ; {self-acting, self-activating, self-moving, self-regulating ; {self-locking ; {self-winding . Also See: mechanical.
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(Physiol.) Not voluntary; not depending on the will; mechanical; controlled by the autonomic nervous system; without conscious control; as, automatic movements or functions. The opposite of {voluntary.
Syn: reflex(prenominal), reflexive,involuntary
Unconscious or automatic reasoning.
--H. Spenser. -
like the unthinking functioning of a machine. an automatic `thank you'
Syn: automaton-like, automatonlike, machinelike, machine-like, robotlike.
Automatic arts, such economic arts or manufacture as are carried on by self-acting machinery.
--Ure.
Wiktionary
a. (archaic form of automatic English)
Usage examples of "automatical".
His suit unwrinkled as the pressure dropped and when it hit zero the outer door automatically unlocked.
The windshield darkened automatically at the actinic onslaught, opaquing completely b~efore the sun.
He made the corrections automatically, still taken aback by the momentous changes and the immense gravity of the situation.
As soon as the connection was complete the inner door opened automatically.
Jan led the way, through the open hatch and onto the wide metal gangway that had extended automatically after the landing.
When the pressure in the airlock equaled that in the ship, the inner lock opened automatically.
I am recording and this message will automatically repeat on the two main communication frequencies, then the emergency frequency again.
One after another they landed, and once on the ground were guided automatically to the refueling points.
He took out one of the hard biscuits that passed for bread and automatical!
They moved aside automatically as Vimes elbowed his way through to the space in front of the gates.
Sergeant Colon reached automatically for the screws that held the lid shut.
He froze for a fraction of a second, automatically assessing-not environmental failure, not hull damage, not a threat to the reactors-and then thrust himself away from his desk.
O'Brien nodded, but Sisko was pleased to see that he kept his eyes on the station controls, automatical ly checking system status.
He fit the panel back into place automatically, and stood, head cocked to one side as he waited for an answer.
She drew her phaser, checking the power pack automatically, and saw Sisko's eyes on her.