Au-tŏm'a-ton, n.

n.; pl. AU-TŏM'-A-TĀ, or AU-TŌM'-A-TON. [Gr. αὐτόματος, self-moving, from αὐτός, self, and μαεῖν, perf. μέμαα, to strive after, to move; n. αὐτόματον. Lat. automatum, Fr. automate.] A self moving machine, or one which has its moving power within itself;—applied chiefly to machines which imitate the motions of men or animals. Paley.

The term is sometimes applied to any thing which has the power of spontaneous movement. “So great and admirable an automaton as the world.” Boyle.