robot

American  

[roh-bot] / ˈroʊ bɒt /

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.

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adjective

1. operating automatically.

   a robot train operating between airline terminals.

robot British  

/ 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

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robot Scientific  

/ rō′bŏt′ /

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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of robot

< 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

Example Sentences

And then the other Champions League final where we played really well and, you know, they had a robot in goal!

From BBC

His excitement grows as he remembers discussions about robots, tanks and laser tag.

From BBC

Tesla is squarely focused on businesses that have yet to truly launch: robo-taxis and humanoid robots.

From Barron's

With AI and robots, however, this same tendency leads us to trust any system that appears to listen, understand and want to help, a phenomenon Howard calls “over-trust.”

From The Wall Street Journal

What investors do know is that “Terafab” is about manufacturing the microchips Tesla needs to meet its “physical AI” ambitions—such as producing millions of robo-taxis and the humanoid robots it has named Optimus.

From Barron's