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

This innovation could lead to improved camouflage systems for both humans and robots, as well as flexible displays that change color for wearable devices.

From Science Daily

Imagine tiny robots made from DNA moving through the bloodstream, delivering drugs exactly where they are needed and targeting threats such as cancer cells or viruses.

From Science Daily

The company, based outside Toronto, needs to find a second life for the factory and the hulking rows of assembly-line robots it spent roughly $575 million setting up.

From The Wall Street Journal

You could see autonomous robots performing complicated surgeries by themselves, every car on the road getting driven autonomously, and personal artificial intelligence agents organizing every step of a person’s day-to-day activities.

From Barron's

If his company acts now, it can gain an advantage in developing AI models that power virtual agents and “physical AI,” including robots and robotaxis.

From Barron's