automat
C1/C2Formal, historical, technical
Definition
Meaning
A vending machine, especially one that dispenses food or beverages, or a restaurant where food is served from such machines.
Something or someone functioning in a mechanical, unthinking manner, or a system operating without conscious control, as in an automaton.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a noun. It is often historically specific, evoking early to mid-20th century urban (especially New York) dining culture. The secondary meaning relating to an automaton is less common in general use but understood in technical or philosophical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the word is rare and understood mainly in its technical or historical sense. In American English, it has a specific cultural-historical meaning (a type of self-service restaurant) and is more recognised.
Connotations
UK: Technical, dated, possibly from science fiction. US: Nostalgic, historical (esp. Horn & Hardart automats), urban, efficient.
Frequency
Very low frequency in modern UK English. Low but specific frequency in US English, primarily in historical or cultural discussions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
eat at the [automat]insert coins into the [automat]the [automat] dispensedVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like an automat: functioning mechanically and without thought.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could refer to automated retail systems.
Academic
Used in historical studies of urban life, technology, or in philosophy/robotics relating to automation.
Everyday
Virtually unused in modern everyday conversation except in specific historical reference.
Technical
Used in robotics and automation engineering as a term for a self-operating machine.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The process was automat*ed* for efficiency.
- They sought to automat*e* the factory line.
American English
- The company decided to automat*e* its billing system.
- We need to automat*e* these repetitive tasks.
adverb
British English
- The doors closed automat*ically*.
- He nodded automat*ically* without listening.
American English
- The system reboots automat*ically*.
- She responded automat*ically* to the command.
adjective
British English
- The automat*ic* doors opened smoothly.
- He gave an automat*ic* response.
American English
- She had an automat*ic* reaction to the loud noise.
- The car has an automat*ic* transmission.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandfather used to eat at an automat in New York.
- I put a coin in the automat to get a drink.
- The automat, a relic of early 20th-century urban dining, fascinates historians.
- He worked like an automat, performing the task without any conscious thought.
- The Horn & Hardart automat chain revolutionised quick-service dining by leveraging automation.
- In philosophical discourse, a being that acts purely on predetermined rules is little more than a sophisticated automat.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think AUTOmatic + MAT (where you eat). An AUTOMAT is an automatic place to get a meal.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMAN IS A MACHINE / EFFICIENCY IS AUTOMATION
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'автомат' meaning a vending machine for tickets or drinks, as the English term is much more culturally specific for food. Also, do not use it as a direct translation for 'автомат' meaning a submachine gun.
- The secondary meaning of 'a mindless person' (автомат) is understood but is less common than 'automaton' in English.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'automat' for any modern vending machine (prefer 'vending machine').
- Pronouncing it /ɔːˈtɒmət/ (like 'automatic' without the 'ic').
- Using it as a verb.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of an 'automat' in its classic American sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is largely historical. While the concept exists (vending machines), the specific term 'automat' for a restaurant is dated and evokes a particular era.
An 'automat' typically refers to a bank of many coin-operated food dispensers forming a self-service restaurant. A 'vending machine' is a single, often free-standing, machine dispensing snacks or drinks.
Indirectly. You could say someone is 'like an automat' to mean they act mechanically. The direct noun for a human-like machine is 'automaton'.
Yes, significantly. In AmE it has a strong cultural-historical meaning. In BrE, it is a very rare, technical word that most would associate with machines or science fiction, not a restaurant.
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