overwordExplorer
ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

auto.

A setting for automatic operation.

4 characters2 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/ˈɔːtəʊ/Received-Pronunciation[ˈɔː.tʰəʊ̯]Received-Pronunciation/ˈɔ.toʊ̯/[ˈɔ.tʰoʊ̯]
  1. A setting for automatic operation.

    uncountable
    Put it on auto.
  2. An automatic gearbox/transmission.

    countable · uncountable
    A body-coloured centre pillar signalled the arrival of an electronic four-speed auto, slight suspension revisions and minor trim changes.
  3. A car with an automatic gearbox/transmission.

    countable · uncountable
    It wasn't too bad but we did hire an auto (couldn't imagine changing gears with my right hand).
Where this word comes from

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew Proto-Indo-European *tó- Proto-Hellenic *autós Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón) Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *men- Proto-Indo-European *-tós 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 Clipping of automatic.

verb/ˈɔːtəʊ/Received-Pronunciation[ˈɔː.tʰəʊ̯]Received-Pronunciation/ˈɔ.toʊ̯/[ˈɔ.tʰoʊ̯]
  1. To travel by automobile.

    dated · intransitive
Where this word comes from

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew Proto-Indo-European *tó- Proto-Hellenic *autós Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón) Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-)lbor. French auto- Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin mōbilislbor. French mobile French automobilebor. English automobileclip. English auto Clipping of automobile.

noun/ˈɔːtəʊ/Received-Pronunciation[ˈɔː.tʰəʊ̯]Received-Pronunciation/ˈɔ.toʊ̯/[ˈɔ.tʰoʊ̯]
  1. An autorickshaw.

    India
    Users are often unable to note down the number of the taxi or the auto as the driver will just zoom past.
Where this word comes from

Clipping of autorickshaw.

noun/ˈɔːtəʊ/Received-Pronunciation[ˈɔː.tʰəʊ̯]Received-Pronunciation/ˈɔ.toʊ̯/[ˈɔ.tʰoʊ̯]
  1. A genre of dramatic literature.

Where this word comes from

Borrowed from Spanish auto.

adj/ˈɔːtəʊ/Received-Pronunciation[ˈɔː.tʰəʊ̯]Received-Pronunciation/ˈɔ.toʊ̯/[ˈɔ.tʰoʊ̯]
  1. Clipping of automatic (of a gearbox/transmission).

    abbreviation · alt-of · clipping · not-comparable
    It's an auto sedan which we picked up from a wholesaler locally.
Where this word comes from

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew Proto-Indo-European *tó- Proto-Hellenic *autós Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón) Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-) Proto-Indo-European *men- Proto-Indo-European *-tós 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 Clipping of automatic.

noun/ˈɔːtəʊ/Received-Pronunciation[ˈɔː.tʰəʊ̯]Received-Pronunciation/ˈɔ.toʊ̯/[ˈɔ.tʰoʊ̯]
  1. Clipping of automobile.

    abbreviation · alt-of · attributive · clipping · countable · uncountable
    My brother is an auto mechanic. He can get me a discount on auto parts.
    In 1909, his grandfather was the first farmer in the county to buy an auto.
Where this word comes from

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew Proto-Indo-European *tó- Proto-Hellenic *autós Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewder. Ancient Greek αὖ (aû) Ancient Greek τόν (tón) Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós) Ancient Greek αὐτο- (auto-)lbor. French auto- Proto-Indo-European *m(y)ewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *m(y)owh₁éyeti Proto-Italic *moweō Latin moveō Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Italic *-ðlom Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin mōbilislbor. French mobile French automobilebor. English automobileclip. English auto Clipping of automobile.

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Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.