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• auto
  auto

  noun

  automobile.
• auto-
  auto-

  a combining form meaning “self,” “same,” “spontaneous,” used in the formation of compound words.
• auto.
  auto.

  abbreviation

  automatic.

auto

¹ American  

[aw-toh] / ˈɔ toʊ /

noun

autos plural

1. automobile.

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adjective

1. of or relating to automobiles.

   an auto salesman; auto detailing.

auto- ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “self,” “same,” “spontaneous,” used in the formation of compound words.

   autograph, autodidact.

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auto- ³ American  

1. a combining form representing automobile in compound words.

   autocade.

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auto- ⁴ American  

1. a combining form representing automatic in compound words: autoalarm; autofeed; autofocus . Sometimes also taken as an adjective.

   auto enlarger; auto stop control; auto dialer.

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auto. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. automatic.

2. automobile.

3. automotive.

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auto ¹ British  

/ ˈɔːtəʊ /

noun

1. 1. short for automobile

   2. ( as modifier )

      auto parts

2. informal short for autorickshaw

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auto- ² British  

combining form

1. self; same; of or by the same one

   autobiography

2. acting from or occurring within; self-caused

   autohypnosis

3. self-propelling; automatic

   automobile

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• autos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of auto¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; by shortening

Origin of auto-²

< Greek, combining form of autós self

Origin of auto-³

see origin at auto

Explanation

An auto is a car. If you drive your auto too fast, you might get a speeding ticket. The word auto is an informal, shortened form of automobile. You're most likely to hear the word auto when someone's talking about insurance, auto parts, or the auto industry. Automobile was originally a French word, formed from the Greek autos, or "self," and the French mobile, "moving."

Example Sentences

An auto- inflammatory disease is defined by chronic inflammation, unprovoked by an infection, when antibody concentrations are not high.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

So you used to be able to post to WordPress and we would auto- post to Tumblr, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook etc., and they turned off those API is after Cambridge Analytica.

From The Verge • Aug. 14, 2019

“Yet while auto- and steelworkers generally shared some of the gains of their industries, the growers rarely got their piece of the pie,” Simon writes.

From Washington Post • Sep. 1, 2017

Debating the question “is the iCar real?” has become a favorite barroom distraction for auto- and tech journos alike.

From Time • Apr. 18, 2016

Again, it is said that when the thyroid gland has degenerated there ensues a condition of auto- intoxication, followed by a degeneration of other organs which destroy and eliminate poisons in the blood.

From Vitality Supreme by Macfadden, Bernarr

Related Words

• car
• passenger car
• vehicle