robot

[roh-bot]

noun

1. a machine that resembles a human and does mechanical, routine tasks on command.

2. a person who acts and responds in a mechanical, routine manner, usually subject to another's will; automaton.

3. any machine or mechanical device that operates automatically with humanlike skill.

adjective

1. operating automatically.

   a robot train operating between airline terminals.

robot

/ ˈrəʊbɒt /

noun

1. any automated machine programmed to perform specific mechanical functions in the manner of a man

2. (modifier) not controlled by man; automatic

   a robot pilot

3. a person who works or behaves like a machine; automaton

4. a set of traffic lights

robot

1. A machine designed to replace human beings in performing a variety of tasks, either on command or by being programmed in advance.

Other Word Forms

• robot-like adjective
• robotic adjective
• robotism noun
• robotistic adjective
• robotlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of robot¹

< Czech, coined by Karel Čapek in the play R.U.R. (1920) from the base robot-, as in robota compulsory labor, robotník peasant owing such labor

Word History and Origins

Origin of robot¹

C20: (used in R.U.R. , a play by Karel _Čapek ) from Czech robota work; related to Old Slavonic rabota servitude, German Arbeit work

Example Sentences

Though China still has more industrial robots than the rest of the world combined, newer, more flexible robots are keeping smaller U.S. manufacturers in the fight, writes Christopher Mims.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Son has told associates he hoped to incorporate robots in chip-manufacturing plants that will power AI.

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CGS estimates that the market size of humanoid robots could reach 3 trillion yuan by 2040.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"We are already working on bringing the total processing time down by using a robot to automate these steps," Yee says.

Read more on Science Daily

Once a luxury reserved for big manufacturers, smaller, smarter, more flexible and less expensive “cobots”—collaborative robots—are bringing automation to every fabricator, no matter the size.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal