autopilot
noun
- system to maintain vehicle trajectory in lieu of direct operator command
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈɔːtəʊˌpaɪlət/ / /ˈɔtoʊˌpaɪlət/ / [ˈɔ.ɾoʊˌpaɪlət]
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder.? Proto-Indo-European *sóder.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón)? Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *mn̥tós Proto-Hellenic *mətós Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτος (autómătos) Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτον (autómăton)der. Classical Latin automatum New Latin automaticusbor. English automaticclip. English auto- English pilot English autopilot From auto- + pilot.
- A mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being.
“I set the autopilot to due south, so I could get some rest.”
- A state of mind where one no longer thinks about doing one's actions, but acts mechanically.
“I've been doing this 12 hours non-stop, and am so hungry and tired that I've stopped thinking: I'm now on autopilot.”
“But while the wackiness gets exasperating fast (a running joke about Hazel’s father, played by Ray Romano on autopilot, having a sex doll for a wife is even unfunnier than it sounds), Milioti works overtime to keep us invested.”
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder.? Proto-Indo-European *sóder.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón)? Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *mn̥tós Proto-Hellenic *mətós Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτος (autómătos) Ancient Greek αὐτόμᾰτον (autómăton)der. Classical Latin automatum New Latin automaticusbor. English automaticclip. English auto- English pilot English autopilot From auto- + pilot.
- To pilot itself; to drive or travel automatically.