automata

UK: /ɔːˈtɒmətə/ US: (ô tom′ə tə)

From automaton (n):

automatons

npl

automata

npl

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

au•tom•a•ta  (ô tom′ə tə), n. 

1. Mechanical Engineering a pl. of automaton. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

au•tom•a•ton /ɔˈtɑməˌtɑn, -tən/   n. [countable] , pl. -tons, -ta /-tə/.  

1. Mechanical Engineering a small mechanical figure built to act and move as if by its own power;
   robot.
2. a person who acts mechanically.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

au•tom•a•ton  (ô tom′ə ton′, -tn), n., pl. -tons, -ta (-tə). 

1. Mechanical Engineering a mechanical figure or contrivance constructed to act as if by its own motive power;
   robot.
2. a person or animal that acts in a monotonous, routine manner, without active intelligence.
3. something capable of acting automatically or without an external motive force.

• Greek, noun, nominal use of neuter of autómatos spontaneous, acting without human agency, equivalent. to auto- auto-¹ + -matos, adjective, adjectival derivative from base of memonénai to intend, ménos might, force
• Latin: automatic device
• 1605–15

au•tom′a•tous, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

automaton / ɔːˈtɒməˌtɒn -t^ən/ noun ( -tons, -ta / -tə/)

1. a mechanical device operating under its own hidden power; robot
2. a person who acts mechanically or leads a routine monotonous life

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin, from Greek, from automatos spontaneous, self-moving