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• bot
  bot

  noun

  a software program that can execute commands, reply to messages, or perform routine tasks, as online searches, either automatically or with minimal human intervention (often used in combination): a customer service chatbot to answer product questions.
• bot.
  bot.

  abbreviation

  botanical.
• B.O.T.
  B.O.T.

  abbreviation

  Board of Trade.
• BOT
  BOT

  abbreviation

  Board of Trade

bot

¹ American  

[bot] / bɒt /

noun

1. Digital Technology. a software program that can execute commands, reply to messages, or perform routine tasks, as online searches, either automatically or with minimal human intervention (often used in combination): a customer service chatbot to answer product questions.

   a social media bot retweeting certain posts;

   a customer service chatbot to answer product questions.

2. Informal. a robot.

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bot ² American  

[bot] / bɒt /

Or bott

noun

1. the larva of a botfly.

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bot ³ American  

[bot] / bɒt /

noun

Australian Slang.

1. a person who cadges; scrounger.

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bot. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. botanical.

2. botanist.

3. botany.

4. bottle.

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B.O.T. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. Board of Trade.

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bot. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. botanical

2. botany

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BOT ² British  

abbreviation

1. Board of Trade

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bot ³ British  

/ bɒt /

noun

1. the larva of a botfly, which typically develops inside the body of a horse, sheep, or man

2. any similar larva

3. informal a mild illness in humans

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bot ⁴ British  

/ bɒt /

verb

1. to scrounge or borrow

2. to scrounge (from); impose (on)

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noun

1. a scrounger

2. wanting to scrounge

   he's on the bot for a cigarette

bot ⁵ British  

/ bɒt /

noun

1. computing an autonomous computer program that performs time-consuming tasks, esp on the internet

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bot Scientific  

/ bŏt /

1. A software program that imitates the behavior of a human, as by querying search engines or participating in chatroom discussions.

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Etymology

Origin of bot¹

First recorded in 1985–90; bot ¹ def. 2 first recorded in 1965–70; shortening of robot

Origin of bot²

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; akin to Dutch bot, Frisian dialect botten (plural); further origin unknown

Origin of bot³

First recorded in 1915–20; perhaps shortening of botfly

Explanation

A bot is a computer program that imitates human activity online. Bots are especially good at doing repetitive tasks very quickly — much faster than a person possibly could. The word bot is shorthand for robot, and it can describe independently moving machines that perform tasks, like the bot vacuum cleaner that terrifies your cat. Online bots have also been programmed to do boring jobs, like mining data from the web or answering basic customer service questions. Most bots are benign (or even useful), but some are malicious, programmed to spread disinformation, spam, and computer viruses.

Example Sentences

Mind Robotics, the startup founded by Rivian Chief Executive RJ Scaringe, raised an additional $400 million from investors on Wednesday, the latest bet on an AI-powered bot revolution in manufacturing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

The bot has yet to appear in any Hollywood project, but the creators have said its synthetic universe will continue to expand.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

Some council members defended the robots, calling the ban a “knee-jerk reaction” as robot fleets have the potential to reduce road congestion and delivery costs, and present a chance to generate revenue from bot licenses.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

While for Sixtus the issue is that AI music doesn't sound right, others simply don't want to listen to music made by a bot.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

His brothers, sisters, half-siblings, grandma, and her all-too-perfect husband, who Rowan suspected might actually be a bot.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman