robot

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈrəʊˌbɒt/ 🇺🇸 /ˈroʊˌbɑt/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A machine, especially one programmable by a computer, capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically.; A person who acts in a mechanical, automatic, or emotionless manner.; A remotely controlled or autonomous device used for tasks such as exploration, surveillance, or bomb disposal.; A software program that performs automated tasks on the internet, such as crawling web pages or responding to queries.; In South African English, a traffic light or set of traffic signals.; A mechanical or electronic device designed to perform a specific function, such as a robotic vacuum cleaner or lawn mower.
  2. verb
    To operate or control like a robot; to automate a process.
  3. adjective
    Resembling or characteristic of a robot; mechanical, automatic, or lacking emotion.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: robots

Collocations

industrial robotrobot armrobot vacuumlike a robotrobot assistantservice robot

Derivatives

roboticroboticsroboticallyrobotizerobotization

Synonyms

automatonandroidmachinebotdroid

Antonyms

human

Commonly confused

android
EN: 'Android' specifically refers to a robot designed to resemble a human in appearance, while 'robot' is the general term for any programmable machine.
automaton
EN: 'Automaton' typically refers to a self-operating mechanical device, often with a historical or clockwork connotation, whereas 'robot' implies electronic programmability.

Spelling tips

EN: No common spelling issues. The word comes from Czech 'robota' (forced labor), coined by Karel Čapek in 1920.

💬 Examples

  1. The factory replaced many workers with robots that could assemble cars around the clock.

  2. After years of repetitive work, he felt like a robot going through the motions every day.

  3. The police deployed a robot to inspect the suspicious package before approaching it.

  4. Search engine robots index millions of web pages every day to keep results up to date.

  5. Turn left at the next robot and continue straight for two blocks.

  6. She bought a robot to vacuum the floors while she was at work.

  7. The company plans to robot much of its warehouse operations within five years.

  8. Her robot movements on the dance floor impressed everyone at the party.