author|ship /ɔː θə r ʃ I p/ N‑UNCOUNT The authorship of a piece of writing is the identity of the person who wrote it.
autism /ɔː t I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Autism is a developmental disorder that can cause someone to have difficulty in communicating with and responding to other people.
autis|tic /ɔːt I st I k/ ADJ An autistic person suffers from autism.
auto ◆◇◇ /ɔː toʊ/ (autos ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] An auto is a car. [AM ] □ …the auto industry.
PREFIX auto-
forms words that refer to someone doing something to, for, or about themselves. For example, your autobiography is an account of your life, which you write yourself.
auto|bahn /ɔː toʊbɑːn/ (autobahns ) N‑COUNT An autobahn is a German motorway.
auto|bio|graphi|cal /ɔː toʊba I əgræ f I k ə l/ ADJ An autobiographical piece of writing relates to events in the life of the person who has written it. □ …a highly autobiographical novel of a woman's search for identity.
auto|bi|og|ra|phy /ɔː təba I ɒ grəfi/ (autobiographies ) N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Your autobiography is an account of your life, which you write yourself. □ He published his autobiography last autumn.
autoc|ra|cy /ɔːtɒ krəsi/ (autocracies )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Autocracy is government or control by one person who has complete power. □ Many poor countries are abandoning autocracy.
2 N‑COUNT An autocracy is a country or organization that is ruled by one person who has complete power. □ She ceded all power to her son-in-law who now runs the country as an autocracy.
auto|crat /ɔː təkræt/ (autocrats ) N‑COUNT An autocrat is a person in authority who has complete power.
auto|crat|ic /ɔː təkræ t I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An autocratic person or organization has complete power and makes decisions without asking anyone else's advice. □ The people have grown intolerant in recent weeks of the King's autocratic ways.
Auto|cue /ɔː toʊkjuː/ (Autocues ) N‑COUNT An Autocue is a device used by people speaking on television or at a public event, which displays words for them to read. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ] in AM, use Teleprompter
auto|graph /ɔː təgrɑːf, -græf/ (autographs , autographing , autographed )
1 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] An autograph is the signature of someone famous which is specially written for a fan to keep. □ He went backstage and asked for her autograph.
2 VERB If someone famous autographs something, they put their signature on it. □ [V n] I autographed a copy of one of my books. □ [V -ed] …an autographed photo of her idol.
au to-immu ne also autoimmune ADJ [usu ADJ n] Auto-immune describes medical conditions in which normal cells are attacked by the body's immune system. □ …auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
auto|mate /ɔː təme I t/ (automates , automating , automated ) VERB To automate a factory, office, or industrial process means to put in machines which can do the work instead of people. □ [V n] He wanted to use computers to automate the process. ● auto|ma|tion /ɔː təme I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ In the last ten years automation has reduced the work force here by half.
auto|mat|ed /ɔː təme I t I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An automated factory, office, or industrial process uses machines to do the work instead of people.
auto|mat|ic ◆◇◇ /ɔː təmæ t I k/ (automatics )
1 ADJ An automatic machine or device is one which has controls that enable it to perform a task without needing to be constantly operated by a person. Automatic methods and processes involve the use of such machines. □ Modern trains have automatic doors.
2 N‑COUNT An automatic is a gun that keeps firing shots until you stop pulling the trigger. □ He drew his automatic and began running in the direction of the sounds.
3 N‑COUNT An automatic is a car in which the gears change automatically as the car's speed increases or decreases.
4 ADJ An automatic action is one that you do without thinking about it. □ All of the automatic body functions, even breathing, are affected. ● auto|mati|cal|ly /ɔː təmæ t I kli/ ADV [usu ADV with v] □ Strangely enough, you will automatically wake up after this length of time.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If something such as an action or a punishment is automatic , it happens without people needing to think about it because it is the result of a fixed rule or method. □ Those drivers should face an automatic charge of manslaughter. ● auto|mati|cal|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV n/adj] □ As an account customer, you are automatically entitled to a variety of benefits. SYNONYMS automatic ADJ 1
mechanized: …highly mechanised production methods.
mechanicaclass="underline" Most mechanical devices require oil as a lubricant.
automated: The equipment was made on highly automated production lines.
au to|mat|ic pi |lot or autopilot
1 PHRASE If you are on automatic pilot or on autopilot , you are acting without thinking about what you are doing, usually because you have done it many times before.
2 N‑SING An automatic pilot or an autopilot is a device in an aircraft that automatically keeps it on a particular course.
au to|mat|ic trans|mi s|sion N‑UNCOUNT A car that is fitted with automatic transmission has a gear system in which the gears change automatically.
automa|ton /ɔːtɒ mətən/ (automatons or automata /ɔːtɒ mətə/)